Google Maps Distance Calculator

Great Circle Distance Formula:

\[ d = R \cdot \arccos(\sin\phi_1 \cdot \sin\phi_2 + \cos\phi_1 \cdot \cos\phi_2 \cdot \cos\Delta\lambda) \]

Point 1 Latitude:

Point 1 Longitude:

Point 2 Latitude:

Point 2 Longitude:

Distance (km):

Distance (miles):

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1. What is a Google Maps Distance Calculator?

Definition: This calculator computes the great-circle distance between two points on the Earth's surface using their latitude and longitude coordinates.

Purpose: It helps travelers, geographers, and logistics professionals determine accurate distances between locations for planning purposes.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Haversine formula:

\[ d = R \cdot \arccos(\sin\phi_1 \cdot \sin\phi_2 + \cos\phi_1 \cdot \cos\phi_2 \cdot \cos\Delta\lambda) \]

Where:

\( d \) — Distance between points
\( R \) — Earth's radius (mean radius = 6,371km)
\( \phi_1, \phi_2 \) — Latitude of point 1 and point 2
\( \Delta\lambda \) — Difference in longitude between points

Explanation: The formula calculates the shortest distance between two points on a sphere (great-circle distance).

3. Importance of Accurate Distance Calculation

Details: Precise distance measurements are crucial for navigation, flight planning, shipping logistics, and geographic information systems.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the latitude and longitude for both points in decimal degrees format. Positive values for North/East, negative for South/West.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between great-circle and rhumb line distance?
A: Great-circle is the shortest path, while rhumb line maintains constant bearing (longer but easier to navigate).

Q2: How accurate is this calculation?
A: It's accurate to about 0.5% for most practical purposes, assuming a spherical Earth.

Q3: Can I use degrees-minutes-seconds format?
A: Convert to decimal degrees first (e.g., 45°30' = 45.5°).

Q4: Why are my results different from Google Maps?
A: Google uses more complex ellipsoidal models and accounts for terrain.

Q5: What's the maximum distance this can calculate?
A: It works for any two points on Earth, but accuracy decreases for antipodal points.