How to Calculate the Latitude and Angle

Calculate latitude and angle for navigational purposes.

Latitude is the measurement of distance, in degrees, from an equatorial point to a "small circle" that circumscribes a sphere. This distance is most often expressed as an angle whose arc begins at an equatorial line and extends to the point of latitude of interest. Latitude is most often referred to in reference to the Earth, where it is used as a navigational tool to specify points on the globe. Given the distance from the equator, you can determine the latitude and angle generated at that position on a sphere.

Things You'll Need

• Scientific calculator

Instructions

1. Divide the distance from the equator by the radius of the sphere. For reference, the radius of the Earth is approximately 6,378.1 kilometers.

2. Multiply the result by 180°/π. This converts the radian measure to a measure in degrees, which is the angle to the point selected.

3. Assign a north prefix to the angle if it is positive or a south prefix to the angle if it is negative.

4. Take the absolute value of the angle calculated. This removes the negative sign from the angle and is done because latitudes are not measured in negatives. The result from this absolute value operation is the latitude to the desired point, with respect to the equator.

References

• The Math Page: Arc Length