Convert Earth equatorial radius to nautical mile (international) Online | Free Length Converter
Earth Equatorial Radius
The Earth's equatorial radius is the distance from the center of the Earth to the equator. It represents the Earth's radius measured along the equatorial plane.
Its value is approximately 6,378.1 kilometers (about 3,963.2 miles).
The Earth is not a perfect sphere but an oblate spheroid, so the equatorial radius is slightly larger than the polar radius.
This radius is important for geodesy, satellite orbits, and mapping.
Key facts:
Equatorial radius ≈ 6,378.1 km
Larger than polar radius due to Earth's flattening at the poles
Used in Earth sciences, navigation, and space missions
Understanding the Earth's equatorial radius helps in accurate modeling of the planet’s shape and gravitational field.
Nautical Mile (International)
A nautical mile (international) is a unit of measurement used primarily in maritime and aviation contexts. It is defined as 1,852 meters or 1.852 kilometers, which is approximately 1.1508 statute miles. The nautical mile is based on the Earth's geometry, representing one minute of latitude along any meridian. This makes it particularly useful for navigation, as distances on charts and GPS systems often relate directly to degrees of latitude and longitude. The international nautical mile was officially adopted by the United States in 1954 and is now used worldwide for consistency in global navigation. It is closely linked with the knot, a unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour. The standardization of the nautical mile has greatly simplified communication and coordination in international travel, trade, and defense across oceans and airspace. Its use continues to be essential in global navigation systems today.
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