Perhaps this is just a projection of a square from a non-Euclidean space in which the lines are in fact straight and parallel.
I think the 2D surface of a cone (or double cone) would be an appropriate space, allowing you to construct this shape such that angles and distances around geodesics are conserved in both the space itself and the projected view.
This shape in that space would have four sides of equal length connected by four right angles AND the lines would be geodesics (straight lines) that are parallel.
I suppose you could get a shape like this if you tried to draw a square by true headings and bearings near the North pole of a sphere. “Turn heading 090, travel 10 miles. Turn heading 180, travel 10 miles.” and so forth. Start at a spot close to the pole and this will be your ground track.
Actually no it isn’t, because attempting to make a square you’d make four turns in the same direction, this would require turning left, right, right, left.
Perhaps this is just a projection of a square from a non-Euclidean space in which the lines are in fact straight and parallel.
I think the 2D surface of a cone (or double cone) would be an appropriate space, allowing you to construct this shape such that angles and distances around geodesics are conserved in both the space itself and the projected view.
This shape in that space would have four sides of equal length connected by four right angles AND the lines would be geodesics (straight lines) that are parallel.
I suppose you could get a shape like this if you tried to draw a square by true headings and bearings near the North pole of a sphere. “Turn heading 090, travel 10 miles. Turn heading 180, travel 10 miles.” and so forth. Start at a spot close to the pole and this will be your ground track.
Actually no it isn’t, because attempting to make a square you’d make four turns in the same direction, this would require turning left, right, right, left.