An imaging system (220) for use in observing and defining features on a surface of a spherical body, comprising an optical collector (222) for collecting light so as to define an image of the body from a distance above the body, wherein the collected light includes geometrically distorted portions in relation to the light collected at a center of the image, wherein the degree of geometric distortion of said geometrically distorted portions increases along radial lines that extend outward from the center of the collected light, wherein the geometric distortion is due to curvature of the spherical body or oblique viewing angles, and wherein the optical collector (222) is operable to correct at least some of the geometrically distorted portions by progressively transforming the geometrically distorted portions by sequentially and continuously transforming the collected light from portions that are relatively near the center of the collected light to portions that are relatively near an edge of the collected light for use in defining an image of the body.
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