Yes, this is a map of the Sun.
Legend:
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Explanation
- Orthographic projection = view of a sphere from a large distance. It sucks because it distorts terribly and cannot show more than one hemisphere. It is how we see astronomical objects.
- Dymaxion projection = the globe is projected on an icosahedron, which is then cut into its net. The net is usually chosen to keep continents continuous but the Sun does not have this restriction. As such, any of the 43,380 distinct edge-cut nets can be used, as well as an unlimited number of nets if side cutting is allowed (as the most commonly used Dymaxion projection of Earth does).
Transcript for visually impaired
The flag of Japan is a rectangular white banner bearing a crimson-red circle at its center to symbolize the rising sun. Instead of a circle, this version features a shape composed of 20 equilateral triangles that form a icosahedron net that somewhat resembles this community's iconic stegosaurus. (To improve the stegosaurish look, the net is actually fake and won't fold correctly but don't tell anyone. One would need a good sense of 3D visualisation or actually create and try to fold it to find out.)
