Calculate Miles Between Locations

Great-Circle Distance Formula:

\[ Distance = \sqrt{(lat_2 - lat_1)^2 + (lon_2 - lon_1)^2} \times 111.32 \text{ km} \times 0.621371 \text{ (to miles)} \]

Latitude 1:

degrees

Longitude 1:

degrees

Latitude 2:

degrees

Longitude 2:

degrees

Distance (miles):

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1. What is Great-Circle Distance?

The great-circle distance is the shortest distance between two points on the surface of a sphere, measured along the surface. For Earth, this represents the shortest path between two locations.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the great-circle distance formula:

\[ Distance = \sqrt{(lat_2 - lat_1)^2 + (lon_2 - lon_1)^2} \times 111.32 \text{ km} \times 0.621371 \]

Where:

\( lat_1, lon_1 \) — Coordinates of first location (degrees)
\( lat_2, lon_2 \) — Coordinates of second location (degrees)
111.32 — Approximate kilometers per degree of latitude/longitude
0.621371 — Conversion factor from kilometers to miles

Explanation: This formula calculates the straight-line distance between coordinates and converts it to miles, providing a quick approximation of travel distance.

3. Importance of Distance Calculation

Details: Calculating distances between geographic coordinates is essential for navigation, logistics, travel planning, and geographical analysis. It helps estimate travel time and fuel requirements.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter latitude and longitude coordinates in decimal degrees. Valid ranges: latitude -90 to 90, longitude -180 to 180. For better accuracy, use more decimal places.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How accurate is this calculation?
A: This provides a good approximation for short to medium distances. For precise calculations over long distances, more complex formulas like the Haversine formula are recommended.

Q2: What's the difference between great-circle and rhumb line distance?
A: Great-circle is the shortest path, while rhumb line maintains constant bearing. Great-circle is shorter but requires course changes.

Q3: Can I use this for driving distance?
A: This calculates straight-line distance. Actual driving distance will be longer due to roads, terrain, and routing.

Q4: What coordinate format should I use?
A: Use decimal degrees (e.g., 40.7128, -74.0060 for New York). Convert from DMS if necessary.

Q5: Why multiply by 111.32?
A: This approximates the number of kilometers per degree of latitude/longitude at Earth's surface, though it varies slightly with latitude.