Latitude and Longitude - Revision history

BruceSchafer: /* Finding Latitude and Longitude Using Your Cell Phone */ Added reference to using a map and a web tool to convert formats.

2025-08-02T22:04:30Z

Finding Latitude and Longitude Using Your Cell Phone: Added reference to using a map and a web tool to convert formats.

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:04, 2 August 2025
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	''Using a GPS app''. There are a variety of GPS applications available for Android phones and iPhones. One such app that is available for Android phones is “My GPS Location” by Digrasoft. It reports latitude and longitude with 5 digits to the right of the decimal point. There’s also an app for iPhones called GetLocation.		''Using a GPS app''. There are a variety of GPS applications available for Android phones and iPhones. One such app that is available for Android phones is “My GPS Location” by Digrasoft. It reports latitude and longitude with 5 digits to the right of the decimal point. There’s also an app for iPhones called GetLocation.

			Use a map that included latitude and longitude grid lines. To convert a location in degrees, minutes and seconds to decimal degrees see this [https://www.fcc.gov/media/radio/dms-decimal FCC web page].

	=== History of Formats for Recording and Reporting Latitude and Longitude ===		=== History of Formats for Recording and Reporting Latitude and Longitude ===

BruceSchafer: /* Voicing Latitude and Longitude */ Improved formatting

2024-03-03T03:49:04Z

Voicing Latitude and Longitude: Improved formatting

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:49, 2 March 2024
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	=== Voicing Latitude and Longitude ===		=== Voicing Latitude and Longitude ===
	For clarity begin with the word “latitude” followed by the latitude in degrees. (Think of “Latitude” as a proword that you use instead of “Figures”. Give 5 or 6 digits to the right of the decimal point for each number. The decimal point should be voiced as “decimal” rather than “point”. Then say the proword “longitude” followed by the longitude as a negative number because you are west of Greenwich, England.		For clarity begin with the word “latitude” followed by the latitude in degrees. (Think of “Latitude” as a proword that you use instead of “Figures”. Give 5 or 6 digits to the right of the decimal point for each number. The decimal point should be voiced as “decimal” rather than “point”. Then say the proword “longitude” followed by the longitude as a negative number because you are west of Greenwich, England. For instance, “45.471687, –122.728182” would be voiced as “Latitude four five decimal four seven one six eight seven Longitude minus one two two decimal seven two eight one eight two”. (Notice that you can leave out the comma.)
	For instance, “45.471687, –122.728182” would be
	“Latitude four five decimal four seven one six eight seven Longitude minus one two two decimal seven two eight one eight two”.

	(Notice that you can leave out the comma.)

BruceSchafer: /* Finding Latitude and Longitude Using Your Cell Phone */ Corrected typo

2024-03-03T03:47:39Z

Finding Latitude and Longitude Using Your Cell Phone: Corrected typo

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:47, 2 March 2024
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	''Using Solocator''. Solocator is a specialized camera application available on both Android phones and iPhones. It can be used to take photographs that have the GPS location displayed at the top of the photograph using Decimal Degrees format with 6 digits to the right of the decimal point. For this reason, you may find it a convenient way of obtaining your location by taking a photograph with the application.		''Using Solocator''. Solocator is a specialized camera application available on both Android phones and iPhones. It can be used to take photographs that have the GPS location displayed at the top of the photograph using Decimal Degrees format with 6 digits to the right of the decimal point. For this reason, you may find it a convenient way of obtaining your location by taking a photograph with the application.

	''Using a GPS app''. There are a variety of GPS applications available for Android phones and iPhones. One such app that is available for Android phones is “My GPS Location” by Digrasoft. It reports latitude and longitude with 5 digits to the right of the decimal point. ~~Tthere’s~~ also an app for iPhones called GetLocation.		''Using a GPS app''. There are a variety of GPS applications available for Android phones and iPhones. One such app that is available for Android phones is “My GPS Location” by Digrasoft. It reports latitude and longitude with 5 digits to the right of the decimal point. There’s also an app for iPhones called GetLocation.

	=== History of Formats for Recording and Reporting Latitude and Longitude ===		=== History of Formats for Recording and Reporting Latitude and Longitude ===

BruceSchafer: /* Finding Latitude and Longitude Using Your Cell Phone */ Removed extra words

2024-03-03T03:47:08Z

Finding Latitude and Longitude Using Your Cell Phone: Removed extra words

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:47, 2 March 2024
Line 7:		Line 7:
	''Using Solocator''. Solocator is a specialized camera application available on both Android phones and iPhones. It can be used to take photographs that have the GPS location displayed at the top of the photograph using Decimal Degrees format with 6 digits to the right of the decimal point. For this reason, you may find it a convenient way of obtaining your location by taking a photograph with the application.		''Using Solocator''. Solocator is a specialized camera application available on both Android phones and iPhones. It can be used to take photographs that have the GPS location displayed at the top of the photograph using Decimal Degrees format with 6 digits to the right of the decimal point. For this reason, you may find it a convenient way of obtaining your location by taking a photograph with the application.

	''Using a GPS app''. There are a variety of GPS applications available for Android phones and iPhones. One such app that is available for Android phones is “My GPS Location” by Digrasoft. It reports latitude and longitude with 5 digits to the right of the decimal point. ~~I’ve~~ also ~~heard that there’s~~ an app for iPhones called GetLocation.		''Using a GPS app''. There are a variety of GPS applications available for Android phones and iPhones. One such app that is available for Android phones is “My GPS Location” by Digrasoft. It reports latitude and longitude with 5 digits to the right of the decimal point. Tthere’s also an app for iPhones called GetLocation.

	=== History of Formats for Recording and Reporting Latitude and Longitude ===		=== History of Formats for Recording and Reporting Latitude and Longitude ===

BruceSchafer: /* History of Formats for Recording and Reporting Latitude and Longitude */ Added info on converting from one format to another

2024-03-03T03:38:36Z

History of Formats for Recording and Reporting Latitude and Longitude: Added info on converting from one format to another

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:38, 2 March 2024
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	===== Degrees, Minutes and Seconds =====		===== Degrees, Minutes and Seconds =====
	Recording a location by longitude ~~and latitude~~ has a long history associated with the history of navigating at sea. Traditionally, latitude varies from 0 to 90 degrees north or south with each degree divided into 60 minutes and each minute divided into 60 seconds. Note that these minutes and and seconds have nothing directly to do with time. Exactly 0 degrees latitude is associated with the equator. In contrast, longitude varies from 0 to 180 degrees west or east with 0 degrees corresponding to the longitude of Greenwich, England. As with latitude, each degree of longitude has been traditionally divided into 60 minutes and each minute into 60 seconds. Longitudes east of Greenwich are referred to as east (E) latitudes and those west of Greenwich as west (W). This system is referred to as sexagesimal or DMS format.		Recording a location by latitude and longitude has a long history associated with the history of navigating at sea. Traditionally, latitude varies from 0 to 90 degrees north or south with each degree divided into 60 minutes and each minute divided into 60 seconds. Note that these minutes and and seconds have nothing directly to do with time. Exactly 0 degrees latitude is associated with the equator. In contrast, longitude varies from 0 to 180 degrees west or east with 0 degrees corresponding to the longitude of Greenwich, England. As with latitude, each degree of longitude has been traditionally divided into 60 minutes and each minute into 60 seconds. Longitudes east of Greenwich are referred to as east (E) latitudes and those west of Greenwich as west (W). This system is referred to as sexagesimal or DMS format.

	===== Degrees and Minutes =====		===== Degrees and Minutes =====
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	With the advent of computers and GPS satellites, dividing degrees into minutes has become less common. Instead, latitude and longitude are expressed as degrees with many digits after the decimal point, for instance 45.471687 N, 122.728182 W. Finally, the North (N) or South (S) is often left off the latitude in favor of using positive numbers for latitudes north of the equator and negative numbers for south of the equator. Similarly, longitudes west of Greenwich are often reported as negative numbers and those east reported as positive numbers. This format where only positive or negative degrees are reported is referred to as '''Decimal Degrees'''. For example, 45.471687, -122.728182.		With the advent of computers and GPS satellites, dividing degrees into minutes has become less common. Instead, latitude and longitude are expressed as degrees with many digits after the decimal point, for instance 45.471687 N, 122.728182 W. Finally, the North (N) or South (S) is often left off the latitude in favor of using positive numbers for latitudes north of the equator and negative numbers for south of the equator. Similarly, longitudes west of Greenwich are often reported as negative numbers and those east reported as positive numbers. This format where only positive or negative degrees are reported is referred to as '''Decimal Degrees'''. For example, 45.471687, -122.728182.

	~~This~~ history may be somewhat interesting but it leads to many ways of reporting latitude and longitude. Because most of the tools we have at our disposal use Decimal Degrees, we will use that format for our exercises.		=== Converting Between Formats ===

			The history summary above may be somewhat interesting but it leads to many ways of reporting latitude and longitude. Because most of the tools we have at our disposal use Decimal Degrees, we will use that format for our exercises. If you find that the app you are using produces a different format, you can convert that format to decimal degrees. For instance, the FCC provides a [https://www.fcc.gov/media/radio/dms-decimal web page] that converts between degrees/minutes/second and decimal degrees. You may need to add the negative sign to the longitude, however, assuming you are converting a location in the western hemisphere.

	=== Voicing Latitude and Longitude ===		=== Voicing Latitude and Longitude ===

BruceSchafer: /* Finding Latitude and Longitude Using Your Cell Phone */ Added line breaks between subsections

2024-03-03T03:28:45Z

Finding Latitude and Longitude Using Your Cell Phone: Added line breaks between subsections

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:28, 2 March 2024
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	The GPS feature of our cell phones works without the Internet. The latitude and longitude will be accurate because the phones calculate them based on signals received directly from the GPS satellites.		The GPS feature of our cell phones works without the Internet. The latitude and longitude will be accurate because the phones calculate them based on signals received directly from the GPS satellites.
	There are at least three ways to obtain latitude and longitude from a smartphone:		There are at least three ways to obtain latitude and longitude from a smartphone:

	''Using Google Maps''. If you find your location using Google Maps on an Android phone or on an iPhone you can find your latitude and longitude by doing a long press at your location. This will usually cause the app to display the location in the search field using Decimal Degrees format with 6 digits to the right of the decimal point. Google Maps won't display a detailed map if the Internet is not available unless you ask it it to save its map before the Internet goes down, but the GPS coordinates will be accurate anyway.		''Using Google Maps''. If you find your location using Google Maps on an Android phone or on an iPhone you can find your latitude and longitude by doing a long press at your location. This will usually cause the app to display the location in the search field using Decimal Degrees format with 6 digits to the right of the decimal point. Google Maps won't display a detailed map if the Internet is not available unless you ask it it to save its map before the Internet goes down, but the GPS coordinates will be accurate anyway.

	''Using Solocator''. Solocator is a specialized camera application available on both Android phones and iPhones. It can be used to take photographs that have the GPS location displayed at the top of the photograph using Decimal Degrees format with 6 digits to the right of the decimal point. For this reason, you may find it a convenient way of obtaining your location by taking a photograph with the application.		''Using Solocator''. Solocator is a specialized camera application available on both Android phones and iPhones. It can be used to take photographs that have the GPS location displayed at the top of the photograph using Decimal Degrees format with 6 digits to the right of the decimal point. For this reason, you may find it a convenient way of obtaining your location by taking a photograph with the application.

	''Using a GPS app''. There are a variety of GPS applications available for Android phones and iPhones. One such app that is available for Android phones is “My GPS Location” by Digrasoft. It reports latitude and longitude with 5 digits to the right of the decimal point. I’ve also heard that there’s an app for iPhones called GetLocation.		''Using a GPS app''. There are a variety of GPS applications available for Android phones and iPhones. One such app that is available for Android phones is “My GPS Location” by Digrasoft. It reports latitude and longitude with 5 digits to the right of the decimal point. I’ve also heard that there’s an app for iPhones called GetLocation.

BruceSchafer: /* History of Formats for Recording and Reporting Latitude and Longitude */ Adjusted level of subheads

2024-03-02T21:28:20Z

History of Formats for Recording and Reporting Latitude and Longitude: Adjusted level of subheads

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:28, 2 March 2024
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	=== History of Formats for Recording and Reporting Latitude and Longitude ===		=== History of Formats for Recording and Reporting Latitude and Longitude ===

	===== Degrees, Minutes and Seconds. =====		===== Degrees, Minutes and Seconds =====
	Recording a location by longitude and latitude has a long history associated with the history of navigating at sea. Traditionally, latitude varies from 0 to 90 degrees north or south with each degree divided into 60 minutes and each minute divided into 60 seconds. Note that these minutes and and seconds have nothing directly to do with time. Exactly 0 degrees latitude is associated with the equator. In contrast, longitude varies from 0 to 180 degrees west or east with 0 degrees corresponding to the longitude of Greenwich, England. As with latitude, each degree of longitude has been traditionally divided into 60 minutes and each minute into 60 seconds. Longitudes east of Greenwich are referred to as east (E) latitudes and those west of Greenwich as west (W). This system is referred to as sexagesimal or DMS format.		Recording a location by longitude and latitude has a long history associated with the history of navigating at sea. Traditionally, latitude varies from 0 to 90 degrees north or south with each degree divided into 60 minutes and each minute divided into 60 seconds. Note that these minutes and and seconds have nothing directly to do with time. Exactly 0 degrees latitude is associated with the equator. In contrast, longitude varies from 0 to 180 degrees west or east with 0 degrees corresponding to the longitude of Greenwich, England. As with latitude, each degree of longitude has been traditionally divided into 60 minutes and each minute into 60 seconds. Longitudes east of Greenwich are referred to as east (E) latitudes and those west of Greenwich as west (W). This system is referred to as sexagesimal or DMS format.

	====== Degrees and Minutes ======		===== Degrees and Minutes =====
	Modern nautical charts usually omit seconds and use fractional minutes instead. In place of seconds the minutes part of a latitude or longitude is expressed by adding digits to the right of the decimal point. For instance, a latitude might be expressed as 45 degrees, 29.32 minutes North. One reason for this convention is that one minute of latitude is almost exactly one nautical mile.		Modern nautical charts usually omit seconds and use fractional minutes instead. In place of seconds the minutes part of a latitude or longitude is expressed by adding digits to the right of the decimal point. For instance, a latitude might be expressed as 45 degrees, 29.32 minutes North. One reason for this convention is that one minute of latitude is almost exactly one nautical mile.

	====== Decimal Degrees ======		===== Decimal Degrees =====
	With the advent of computers and GPS satellites, dividing degrees into minutes has become less common. Instead, latitude and longitude are expressed as degrees with many digits after the decimal point, for instance 45.471687 N, 122.728182 W. Finally, the North (N) or South (S) is often left off the latitude in favor of using positive numbers for latitudes north of the equator and negative numbers for south of the equator. Similarly, longitudes west of Greenwich are often reported as negative numbers and those east reported as positive numbers. This format where only positive or negative degrees are reported is referred to as '''Decimal Degrees'''. For example, 45.471687, -122.728182.		With the advent of computers and GPS satellites, dividing degrees into minutes has become less common. Instead, latitude and longitude are expressed as degrees with many digits after the decimal point, for instance 45.471687 N, 122.728182 W. Finally, the North (N) or South (S) is often left off the latitude in favor of using positive numbers for latitudes north of the equator and negative numbers for south of the equator. Similarly, longitudes west of Greenwich are often reported as negative numbers and those east reported as positive numbers. This format where only positive or negative degrees are reported is referred to as '''Decimal Degrees'''. For example, 45.471687, -122.728182.

BruceSchafer: /* History of Formats for Recording and Reporting Latitude and Longitude */ Adding subheads

2024-03-02T21:27:17Z

History of Formats for Recording and Reporting Latitude and Longitude: Adding subheads

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:27, 2 March 2024
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	=== History of Formats for Recording and Reporting Latitude and Longitude ===		=== History of Formats for Recording and Reporting Latitude and Longitude ===

			===== Degrees, Minutes and Seconds. =====
	Recording a location by longitude and latitude has a long history associated with the history of navigating at sea. Traditionally, latitude varies from 0 to 90 degrees north or south with each degree divided into 60 minutes and each minute divided into 60 seconds. Note that these minutes and and seconds have nothing directly to do with time. Exactly 0 degrees latitude is associated with the equator. In contrast, longitude varies from 0 to 180 degrees west or east with 0 degrees corresponding to the longitude of Greenwich, England. As with latitude, each degree of longitude has been traditionally divided into 60 minutes and each minute into 60 seconds. Longitudes east of Greenwich are referred to as east (E) latitudes and those west of Greenwich as west (W). This system is referred to as sexagesimal or DMS format.		Recording a location by longitude and latitude has a long history associated with the history of navigating at sea. Traditionally, latitude varies from 0 to 90 degrees north or south with each degree divided into 60 minutes and each minute divided into 60 seconds. Note that these minutes and and seconds have nothing directly to do with time. Exactly 0 degrees latitude is associated with the equator. In contrast, longitude varies from 0 to 180 degrees west or east with 0 degrees corresponding to the longitude of Greenwich, England. As with latitude, each degree of longitude has been traditionally divided into 60 minutes and each minute into 60 seconds. Longitudes east of Greenwich are referred to as east (E) latitudes and those west of Greenwich as west (W). This system is referred to as sexagesimal or DMS format.

			====== Degrees and Minutes ======
	Modern nautical charts usually omit seconds and use fractional minutes instead. In place of seconds the minutes part of a latitude or longitude is expressed by adding digits to the right of the decimal point. For instance, a latitude might be expressed as 45 degrees, 29.32 minutes North. One reason for this convention is that one minute of latitude is almost exactly one nautical mile.		Modern nautical charts usually omit seconds and use fractional minutes instead. In place of seconds the minutes part of a latitude or longitude is expressed by adding digits to the right of the decimal point. For instance, a latitude might be expressed as 45 degrees, 29.32 minutes North. One reason for this convention is that one minute of latitude is almost exactly one nautical mile.

	With the advent of computers and GPS satellites, dividing degrees into minutes has become less common. Instead, latitude and longitude are expressed as degrees with many digits after the decimal point, for instance 45.471687 N, 122.728182 W. Finally, the North (N) or South (S) is often left off the latitude in favor of using positive numbers for latitudes north of the equator and negative numbers for south of the equator. Similarly, longitudes west of Greenwich are often reported as negative numbers and those east reported as positive numbers. This format where only positive or negative degrees are reported is referred to as Decimal Degrees. For example, 45.471687, -122.728182.		====== Decimal Degrees ======
			With the advent of computers and GPS satellites, dividing degrees into minutes has become less common. Instead, latitude and longitude are expressed as degrees with many digits after the decimal point, for instance 45.471687 N, 122.728182 W. Finally, the North (N) or South (S) is often left off the latitude in favor of using positive numbers for latitudes north of the equator and negative numbers for south of the equator. Similarly, longitudes west of Greenwich are often reported as negative numbers and those east reported as positive numbers. This format where only positive or negative degrees are reported is referred to as '''Decimal Degrees'''. For example, 45.471687, -122.728182.

	This history may be somewhat interesting but it leads to many ways of reporting latitude and longitude. Because most of the tools we have at our disposal use Decimal Degrees, we will use that format for our exercises.		This history may be somewhat interesting but it leads to many ways of reporting latitude and longitude. Because most of the tools we have at our disposal use Decimal Degrees, we will use that format for our exercises.

BruceSchafer: BruceSchafer moved page Longitude and Latitude to Latitude and Longitude: Previous title had words in unconvential order

2023-07-26T22:13:46Z

BruceSchafer moved page Longitude and Latitude to Latitude and Longitude: Previous title had words in unconvential order

← Older revision	Revision as of 15:13, 26 July 2023
(No difference)

BruceSchafer: Created original content for page

2023-04-03T01:35:41Z

Created original content for page

New page

=== Finding Latitude and Longitude Using Your Cell Phone ===
The GPS feature of our cell phones works without the Internet. The latitude and longitude will be accurate because the phones calculate them based on signals received directly from the GPS satellites.
There are at least three ways to obtain latitude and longitude from a smartphone:
''Using Google Maps''. If you find your location using Google Maps on an Android phone or on an iPhone you can find your latitude and longitude by doing a long press at your location. This will usually cause the app to display the location in the search field using Decimal Degrees format with 6 digits to the right of the decimal point. Google Maps won't display a detailed map if the Internet is not available unless you ask it it to save its map before the Internet goes down, but the GPS coordinates will be accurate anyway.
''Using Solocator''. Solocator is a specialized camera application available on both Android phones and iPhones. It can be used to take photographs that have the GPS location displayed at the top of the photograph using Decimal Degrees format with 6 digits to the right of the decimal point. For this reason, you may find it a convenient way of obtaining your location by taking a photograph with the application.
''Using a GPS app''. There are a variety of GPS applications available for Android phones and iPhones. One such app that is available for Android phones is “My GPS Location” by Digrasoft. It reports latitude and longitude with 5 digits to the right of the decimal point. I’ve also heard that there’s an app for iPhones called GetLocation.

=== History of Formats for Recording and Reporting Latitude and Longitude ===
Recording a location by longitude and latitude has a long history associated with the history of navigating at sea. Traditionally, latitude varies from 0 to 90 degrees north or south with each degree divided into 60 minutes and each minute divided into 60 seconds. Note that these minutes and and seconds have nothing directly to do with time. Exactly 0 degrees latitude is associated with the equator. In contrast, longitude varies from 0 to 180 degrees west or east with 0 degrees corresponding to the longitude of Greenwich, England. As with latitude, each degree of longitude has been traditionally divided into 60 minutes and each minute into 60 seconds. Longitudes east of Greenwich are referred to as east (E) latitudes and those west of Greenwich as west (W). This system is referred to as sexagesimal or DMS format.

Modern nautical charts usually omit seconds and use fractional minutes instead. In place of seconds the minutes part of a latitude or longitude is expressed by adding digits to the right of the decimal point. For instance, a latitude might be expressed as 45 degrees, 29.32 minutes North. One reason for this convention is that one minute of latitude is almost exactly one nautical mile.

With the advent of computers and GPS satellites, dividing degrees into minutes has become less common. Instead, latitude and longitude are expressed as degrees with many digits after the decimal point, for instance 45.471687 N, 122.728182 W. Finally, the North (N) or South (S) is often left off the latitude in favor of using positive numbers for latitudes north of the equator and negative numbers for south of the equator. Similarly, longitudes west of Greenwich are often reported as negative numbers and those east reported as positive numbers. This format where only positive or negative degrees are reported is referred to as Decimal Degrees. For example, 45.471687, -122.728182.

This history may be somewhat interesting but it leads to many ways of reporting latitude and longitude. Because most of the tools we have at our disposal use Decimal Degrees, we will use that format for our exercises.

=== Voicing Latitude and Longitude ===
For clarity begin with the word “latitude” followed by the latitude in degrees. (Think of “Latitude” as a proword that you use instead of “Figures”. Give 5 or 6 digits to the right of the decimal point for each number. The decimal point should be voiced as “decimal” rather than “point”. Then say the proword “longitude” followed by the longitude as a negative number because you are west of Greenwich, England.
For instance, “45.471687, –122.728182” would be
“Latitude four five decimal four seven one six eight seven Longitude minus one two two decimal seven two eight one eight two”.

(Notice that you can leave out the comma.)