On parameter estimation for N(μ,σ2I3) based on projected data into S2

The projected normal distribution, with isotropic variance, on the 2-sphere is considered using intrinsic statistics. It is shown that in this case, the expectation commutes with the projection, and that the covariance of the normal variable has a 1-1 correspondence with the intrinsic covariance of the projected normal distribution. This allows us to estimate, after the model identification, the parameters of the underlying normal distribution that generates the data.