What is longitude
- how latitude is measured
- how is latitude measured in degrees
- how is latitude measured on earth
- how is latitude measured on a map
Latitude example!
How to measure latitude and longitudeWhat Are Longitudes and Latitudes?
Together, they form the Earth’s geographical coordinates, and represent the angular distance of any location from the center of the Earth.
Both latitudes and longitudes are measured in degrees (°) and minutes (′).
Astronomical terms & definitions
Dividing Earth Into Hemispheres
The Earth is, almost, but not quite, a sphere that rotates around its axis.
Scientists call this shape a spheroid or ellipsoid. If we draw a line passing through the center of the Earth along its rotational axis, the line would pass through the North and the South Pole.
The equator is an imaginary line perpendicular to this axis.
Latitude diagram
It is equidistant from the North and South Poles, and divides the globe into the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere.
Most locations on the equator experience consistently high temperatures throughout the year. They also experience at least 12 hours of daylight every day during the year.
On the equinoxes—September and March—the Sun is directly overhead the equator, resulting in almost exactly 12 hour d
- how longitude is measured
- how latitude is calculated