elper moves the object to the edge of the sphere
    const positionHelper = new THREE.Object3D();
    positionHelper.position.z = 1;
    latHelper.add(positionHelper);

    const labelParentElem = document.querySelector('#labels');
    for (const countryInfo of countryInfos) {
      const {lat, lon, min, max, name} = countryInfo;

      // adjust the helpers to point to the latitude and longitude
      lonHelper.rotation.y = THREE.MathUtils.degToRad(lon) + lonFudge;
      latHelper.rotation.x = THREE.MathUt