latitude : 42.358372000000003 longitude : -8.8580850000000009 how can I convert to Latitude: 42° 21' N Longitude: 8° 51' W ?? Any tools (js scripts, libraries..) ?? thanks! asked 17 Jan '12, 18:32 afterbit |
How hard could it be?
It is not like you need proj4js or anything when you are just converting the display style. answered 17 Jan '12, 21:01 Gnonthgol ♦ wonderfull!
(18 Jan '12, 09:19)
afterbit
1
On the other hand, proj4js will let you convert between quite a few weird local grids, so it's good to keep in mind.
(18 Jan '12, 10:33)
Vincent de P... ♦
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A pocket calculator (computer, mobile phone, etc.) should do it. A minute is a sixtieth of a degree, so take the decimal part of the position in degrees and multiply it by 60 to convert it to minutes. Thus in the example that you gave, latitude 42.358372° becomes 42° (0.358372 x 60)', or 42°21.502'. Next, you need to know that negative latitude means South of the equator, and negative longitude means West of the Greenwich meridian. That is simply a convention adopted by all geographers. So your position becomes N42°21.502' W8°51.485'. That is the format most commonly used for navigation at sea, where it is useful because a minute of latitude is a nautical mile. The same format is used for geocaching. You can, if you wish, convert the minutes to minutes and seconds in the same way, as a second is simply a sixtieth of a minute. Expressed in that way, the position that you used as an example is N42°21'30" W8°51'29". It's in the coastal waters off North West Spain. answered 17 Jan '12, 22:30 Madryn Gnonthgol ♦ thank you very very much!!
(18 Jan '12, 09:18)
afterbit
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