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.
A degree is a versatile unit used to measure angles, temperature, and even geographic coordinates. When it comes to angles, the degree’s origin traces back to ancient Babylon, where mathematicians used a base-60 number system. This influence is why there are 360 degrees in a circle—a number easily divisible into many integer parts, allowing for precise calculations.
In navigation and cartography, degrees are crucial for pinpointing locations on Earth’s surface through latitude and longitude. Notably, each degree of latitude encompasses about 111 kilometers on the planet’s surface. Meanwhile, in temperature measurement, degrees Fahrenheit and Celsius reveal a fascinating convergence: −40°F is equivalent to −40°C, a curiosity often unknown by many. These uses highlight the degree’s essential role across various fields of science and everyday life.
| Arcminutes | Degrees |
|---|---|
0
arcmin
|
0
deg
|
50
arcmin
|
0.833333
deg
|
100
arcmin
|
1.66667
deg
|
150
arcmin
|
2.5
deg
|
200
arcmin
|
3.33333
deg
|
250
arcmin
|
4.16667
deg
|
300
arcmin
|
5
deg
|
350
arcmin
|
5.83333
deg
|
400
arcmin
|
6.66667
deg
|
450
arcmin
|
7.5
deg
|
500
arcmin
|
8.33333
deg
|
550
arcmin
|
9.16667
deg
|
600
arcmin
|
10
deg
|
650
arcmin
|
10.83333
deg
|
700
arcmin
|
11.66667
deg
|
750
arcmin
|
12.5
deg
|
800
arcmin
|
13.33333
deg
|
850
arcmin
|
14.16667
deg
|
900
arcmin
|
15
deg
|
950
arcmin
|
15.83333
deg
|
1000
arcmin
|
16.66667
deg
|
1050
arcmin
|
17.5
deg
|
1100
arcmin
|
18.33333
deg
|
1150
arcmin
|
19.16667
deg
|
1200
arcmin
|
20
deg
|
1250
arcmin
|
20.83333
deg
|
1300
arcmin
|
21.66667
deg
|
1350
arcmin
|
22.5
deg
|
1400
arcmin
|
23.33333
deg
|
1450
arcmin
|
24.16667
deg
|
1500
arcmin
|
25
deg
|
1550
arcmin
|
25.83333
deg
|
1600
arcmin
|
26.66667
deg
|
1650
arcmin
|
27.5
deg
|
1700
arcmin
|
28.33333
deg
|
1750
arcmin
|
29.16667
deg
|
1800
arcmin
|
30
deg
|
1850
arcmin
|
30.83333
deg
|
1900
arcmin
|
31.66667
deg
|
1950
arcmin
|
32.5
deg
|
2000
arcmin
|
33.33333
deg
|
2050
arcmin
|
34.16667
deg
|
2100
arcmin
|
35
deg
|
2150
arcmin
|
35.83333
deg
|
2200
arcmin
|
36.66667
deg
|
2250
arcmin
|
37.5
deg
|
2300
arcmin
|
38.33333
deg
|
2350
arcmin
|
39.16667
deg
|
2400
arcmin
|
40
deg
|
2450
arcmin
|
40.83333
deg
|
2500
arcmin
|
41.66667
deg
|
2550
arcmin
|
42.5
deg
|
2600
arcmin
|
43.33333
deg
|
2650
arcmin
|
44.16667
deg
|
2700
arcmin
|
45
deg
|
2750
arcmin
|
45.83333
deg
|
2800
arcmin
|
46.66667
deg
|
2850
arcmin
|
47.5
deg
|
2900
arcmin
|
48.33333
deg
|
2950
arcmin
|
49.16667
deg
|
3000
arcmin
|
50
deg
|
3050
arcmin
|
50.83333
deg
|
3100
arcmin
|
51.66667
deg
|
3150
arcmin
|
52.5
deg
|
3200
arcmin
|
53.33333
deg
|
3250
arcmin
|
54.16667
deg
|
3300
arcmin
|
55
deg
|
3350
arcmin
|
55.83333
deg
|
3400
arcmin
|
56.66667
deg
|
3450
arcmin
|
57.5
deg
|
3500
arcmin
|
58.33333
deg
|
3550
arcmin
|
59.16667
deg
|
3600
arcmin
|
60
deg
|
| Conversion | Call to Action |
|---|---|
| Arcminutes to Radians | Go to converter |
| Arcminutes to Gradians | Go to converter |
| Arcminutes to Arcseconds | Go to converter |