Latitude

Key concepts

How Latitude connects to the ideas, people and events around it.

1. Longitude

   paired with

   Longitude is the geographic coordinate that specifies the east–west position of a point on the Earth's surface. It is measured in degrees from the Prime Meridian, which is 0° longitude.

2. Equator

   measured from

   The Equator is an imaginary line encircling the Earth at 0° latitude. It divides the planet into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

3. Prime meridian

   intersects at

   The Prime Meridian is the reference line for longitude, passing through Greenwich, England at 0° longitude. It serves as the basis for the global time zone system.

4. Geographic coordinate system

   part of

   A geographic coordinate system defines locations on Earth using latitude and longitude. It is the foundation for most modern mapping and navigation tools.

5. Celestial sphere

   projected onto

   The celestial sphere is an imaginary sphere onto which the positions of stars and other celestial objects are projected. Latitude determines the altitude of the celestial pole above the horizon.

6. Navigation

   used in

   Navigation is the practice of determining and following a route from one place to another. Latitude, together with longitude, has been essential for sea and air navigation since the Age of Exploration.

7. Global Positioning System

   enables

   The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system that provides location data worldwide. Latitude coordinates are one of the three components returned by GPS receivers.

8. John Harrison

   improved by

   John Harrison was an 18th‑century English clockmaker who invented the marine chronometer. His work allowed accurate determination of longitude, complementing latitude measurements for precise navigation.

Questions about Latitude