Henry Bottomley has put together a Java applet that can dispaly that world in 14 different projections. Users can select a projection and specifiy its parameters and project not only a basic map of the world but also an image of the world at night, a topographic image of the world, the moon, Jupiter and Mars. The basic map of the world seems to be most effective in displaying the distortions that occur with any projection.

By way of Map GIS News Blog for UK, Europe and World Maps and La Cartoteca