How should I see the CMB picture

[the_pulp]

These days have been full of news of the Planck Telescope. The most popular is the actualization of the CMB picture (the ellipse with dots red and blue). I know the idea of it. Each dot represents the "temperature" in some direction (from the earth) in some sort of (θ;ψ) chart -0≤(θ;ψ)≤2$\pi$ . But how do I have to look at that chart? Is it some sort of "planisphere" where the north pole is just one point and the south pole is just another point. If that's it, if I go to the top right I appear in the top left -as in a planisphere", or not?

Just a silly yes or no question, but I couldn't find it in any place.

 

[cristo]

Yes, exactly, the CMB maps are just the surface of a sphere projected down onto 2D space.

(See the movie here, for example, http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=47345)

 

[Chronos]

The CMB is depicted using Mollweide projection, a pseudocylindrical representation of the sky. This method preserves the accuracy of areas, but, the angle and shape are distorted, especially at the edges. For further illustration see http://lambda.gsfc.nasa.gov/product/map/pub_papers/firstyear/basic/wmap_cb1_images.cfm. You may also find this of interest - http://arxiv.org/abs/1008.4085, Central symmetry and antisymmetry of the microwave background inhomogeneities on Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe maps.

 

[the_pulp]

Thank you both very much!