<P> The Mollweide projection is an equal - area, pseudocylindrical map projection generally used for global maps of the world or night sky . It is also known as the Babinet projection, homalographic projection, homolographic projection, and elliptical projection . The projection trades accuracy of angle and shape for accuracy of proportions in area, and as such is used where that property is needed, such as maps depicting global distributions . </P> <P> The projection was first published by mathematician and astronomer Karl (or Carl) Brandan Mollweide (1774--1825) of Leipzig in 1805 . It was reinvented and popularized in 1857 by Jacques Babinet, who gave it the name homalographic projection . The variation homolographic arose from frequent nineteenth - century usage in star atlases . </P>

Why would a geographer want to use an equal area projection like the homolographic projection
find me the text answering this question