The arcminute, a unit of angular measurement, is an intriguing relic from astronomy and navigation. One arcminute equals 1/60th of a degree, and there are 60 arcminutes in a degree. To grasp its precision, consider that the human eye can typically perceive an angular resolution of about one arcminute, which is roughly the apparent size of a dime viewed from 75 feet away. This unit is essential in celestial mapping; for instance, the star Sirius has an apparent diameter of about six arcseconds, a subdivision of the arcminute, spotlighting just how detailed our measurement tools need to be.
Interestingly, the arcminute laid the groundwork for innovations like lunar distance in celestial navigation. Sailors in the 18th century used this unit to calculate longitudes, revolutionizing global exploration. Its precision helped navigate the vast oceans, turning the arcminute into a metric of discovery and adventure, not just measurement.
An arcsecond is a fascinating unit of angular measurement used extensively in astronomy and geodesy. To grasp its minuteness, consider that an arcsecond is 1/3600th of a degree, and there are 360 degrees in a full circle. For practical perspective, the apparent size of a U.S. dime viewed from about 4 kilometers (or 2.5 miles) away roughly equals an arcsecond.
In the realm of astronomy, arcseconds are crucial for measuring celestial events and distances. The Hubble Space Telescope’s resolution power is often celebrated for its ability to distinguish details as tiny as about 0.05 arcseconds—akin to seeing a bumblebee 800 kilometers away! This unit’s precision is vital for understanding the cosmos, from determining stellar positions to mapping distant galaxies.
| Arcminutes | Arcseconds |
|---|---|
0
arcmin
|
0
arcsec
|
50
arcmin
|
3000
arcsec
|
100
arcmin
|
6000
arcsec
|
150
arcmin
|
9000
arcsec
|
200
arcmin
|
12000
arcsec
|
250
arcmin
|
15000
arcsec
|
300
arcmin
|
18000
arcsec
|
350
arcmin
|
21000
arcsec
|
400
arcmin
|
24000
arcsec
|
450
arcmin
|
27000
arcsec
|
500
arcmin
|
30000
arcsec
|
550
arcmin
|
33000
arcsec
|
600
arcmin
|
36000
arcsec
|
650
arcmin
|
39000
arcsec
|
700
arcmin
|
42000
arcsec
|
750
arcmin
|
45000
arcsec
|
800
arcmin
|
48000
arcsec
|
850
arcmin
|
51000
arcsec
|
900
arcmin
|
54000
arcsec
|
950
arcmin
|
57000
arcsec
|
1000
arcmin
|
60000
arcsec
|
1050
arcmin
|
63000
arcsec
|
1100
arcmin
|
66000
arcsec
|
1150
arcmin
|
69000
arcsec
|
1200
arcmin
|
72000
arcsec
|
1250
arcmin
|
75000
arcsec
|
1300
arcmin
|
78000
arcsec
|
1350
arcmin
|
81000
arcsec
|
1400
arcmin
|
84000
arcsec
|
1450
arcmin
|
87000
arcsec
|
1500
arcmin
|
90000
arcsec
|
1550
arcmin
|
93000
arcsec
|
1600
arcmin
|
96000
arcsec
|
1650
arcmin
|
99000
arcsec
|
1700
arcmin
|
102000
arcsec
|
1750
arcmin
|
105000
arcsec
|
1800
arcmin
|
108000
arcsec
|
1850
arcmin
|
111000
arcsec
|
1900
arcmin
|
114000
arcsec
|
1950
arcmin
|
117000
arcsec
|
2000
arcmin
|
120000
arcsec
|
2050
arcmin
|
123000
arcsec
|
2100
arcmin
|
126000
arcsec
|
2150
arcmin
|
129000
arcsec
|
2200
arcmin
|
132000
arcsec
|
2250
arcmin
|
135000
arcsec
|
2300
arcmin
|
138000
arcsec
|
2350
arcmin
|
141000
arcsec
|
2400
arcmin
|
144000
arcsec
|
2450
arcmin
|
147000
arcsec
|
2500
arcmin
|
150000
arcsec
|
2550
arcmin
|
153000
arcsec
|
2600
arcmin
|
156000
arcsec
|
2650
arcmin
|
159000
arcsec
|
2700
arcmin
|
162000
arcsec
|
2750
arcmin
|
165000
arcsec
|
2800
arcmin
|
168000
arcsec
|
2850
arcmin
|
171000
arcsec
|
2900
arcmin
|
174000
arcsec
|
2950
arcmin
|
177000
arcsec
|
3000
arcmin
|
180000
arcsec
|
3050
arcmin
|
183000
arcsec
|
3100
arcmin
|
186000
arcsec
|
3150
arcmin
|
189000
arcsec
|
3200
arcmin
|
192000
arcsec
|
3250
arcmin
|
195000
arcsec
|
3300
arcmin
|
198000
arcsec
|
3350
arcmin
|
201000
arcsec
|
3400
arcmin
|
204000
arcsec
|
3450
arcmin
|
207000
arcsec
|
3500
arcmin
|
210000
arcsec
|
3550
arcmin
|
213000
arcsec
|
3600
arcmin
|
216000
arcsec
|
| Conversion | Call to Action |
|---|---|
| Arcminutes to Radians | Go to converter |
| Arcminutes to Degrees | Go to converter |
| Arcminutes to Gradians | Go to converter |