Latitude & Longitude Explained

Latitude and Longitude Explained. . , Latitude , Latitude is the angular distance on Earth measured North or South of the equator (0° latitude) in degrees, minutes, and seconds. The equator is considered the longest latitude line on Earth measuring 24,901.55 miles. You are standing at the North 45th parallel of latitude, which is halfway between the equator and the North Pole., Longitude , Longitude is the angular distance on Earth measured East or West of the meridian at Greenwich, England, (0° longitude), in degrees, minutes, and seconds. Longitude lines run from the North Pole and South Pole. You are standing at the West 90th meridian of longitude, which is a quarter of the way around the World from Greenwich, England., The latitude/longitude coordinate system uses angular measurements to describe a position on the surface of the earth. The system is used on a worldwide basis, though mariners and aviators have been the primary users of latitude/longitude, The system has been in use, with little change, since the astronomer Ptolemy used it in his first world map in 150 CE.