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.
A radian is a unit of angular measure used in mathematics and is crucial for its ability to maintain consistency in trigonometric calculations. It is defined as the angle formed when the arc length equals the radius of the circle. Unlike degrees, radians offer a natural connection to the properties of a circle, as there are \(2\pi\) radians in a full circle, reflecting the direct relationship with the circle’s circumference. Interestingly, radians are dimensionless, meaning they have no physical dimension, which makes them an extremely versatile unit across different applications in physics and engineering.
Radian’s significance extends beyond just academic circles; it forms the backbone of much of modern technology. For example, the calculations performed by digital devices like smartphones and computers in graphic rendering and signal processing rely heavily on radian-based trigonometry. This seamless integration into practical technology underscores the profound yet often unnoticed role radians play in our digital world. By using radians, we achieve more efficient and accurate results, highlighting their indispensable nature in both theoretical and applied sciences.
Arcseconds | Radians |
---|---|
0
arcsec
|
0
rad
|
50
arcsec
|
0.000242407
rad
|
100
arcsec
|
0.000484814
rad
|
150
arcsec
|
0.000727221
rad
|
200
arcsec
|
0.000969627
rad
|
250
arcsec
|
0.00121203
rad
|
300
arcsec
|
0.00145444
rad
|
350
arcsec
|
0.00169685
rad
|
400
arcsec
|
0.00193925
rad
|
450
arcsec
|
0.00218166
rad
|
500
arcsec
|
0.00242407
rad
|
550
arcsec
|
0.00266648
rad
|
600
arcsec
|
0.00290888
rad
|
650
arcsec
|
0.00315129
rad
|
700
arcsec
|
0.0033937
rad
|
750
arcsec
|
0.0036361
rad
|
800
arcsec
|
0.00387851
rad
|
850
arcsec
|
0.00412092
rad
|
900
arcsec
|
0.00436332
rad
|
950
arcsec
|
0.00460573
rad
|
1000
arcsec
|
0.00484814
rad
|
1050
arcsec
|
0.00509054
rad
|
1100
arcsec
|
0.00533295
rad
|
1150
arcsec
|
0.00557536
rad
|
1200
arcsec
|
0.00581776
rad
|
1250
arcsec
|
0.00606017
rad
|
1300
arcsec
|
0.00630258
rad
|
1350
arcsec
|
0.00654498
rad
|
1400
arcsec
|
0.00678739
rad
|
1450
arcsec
|
0.0070298
rad
|
1500
arcsec
|
0.00727221
rad
|
1550
arcsec
|
0.00751461
rad
|
1600
arcsec
|
0.00775702
rad
|
1650
arcsec
|
0.00799943
rad
|
1700
arcsec
|
0.00824183
rad
|
1750
arcsec
|
0.00848424
rad
|
1800
arcsec
|
0.00872665
rad
|
1850
arcsec
|
0.00896905
rad
|
1900
arcsec
|
0.00921146
rad
|
1950
arcsec
|
0.00945387
rad
|
2000
arcsec
|
0.00969627
rad
|
2050
arcsec
|
0.00993868
rad
|
2100
arcsec
|
0.0101811
rad
|
2150
arcsec
|
0.0104235
rad
|
2200
arcsec
|
0.0106659
rad
|
2250
arcsec
|
0.0109083
rad
|
2300
arcsec
|
0.0111507
rad
|
2350
arcsec
|
0.0113931
rad
|
2400
arcsec
|
0.0116355
rad
|
2450
arcsec
|
0.0118779
rad
|
2500
arcsec
|
0.0121203
rad
|
2550
arcsec
|
0.0123627
rad
|
2600
arcsec
|
0.0126052
rad
|
2650
arcsec
|
0.0128476
rad
|
2700
arcsec
|
0.01309
rad
|
2750
arcsec
|
0.0133324
rad
|
2800
arcsec
|
0.0135748
rad
|
2850
arcsec
|
0.0138172
rad
|
2900
arcsec
|
0.0140596
rad
|
2950
arcsec
|
0.014302
rad
|
3000
arcsec
|
0.0145444
rad
|
3050
arcsec
|
0.0147868
rad
|
3100
arcsec
|
0.0150292
rad
|
3150
arcsec
|
0.0152716
rad
|
3200
arcsec
|
0.015514
rad
|
3250
arcsec
|
0.0157564
rad
|
3300
arcsec
|
0.0159989
rad
|
3350
arcsec
|
0.0162413
rad
|
3400
arcsec
|
0.0164837
rad
|
3450
arcsec
|
0.0167261
rad
|
3500
arcsec
|
0.0169685
rad
|
3550
arcsec
|
0.0172109
rad
|
3600
arcsec
|
0.0174533
rad
|
Conversion | Call to Action |
---|---|
Arcseconds to Degrees | Go to converter |
Arcseconds to Gradians | Go to converter |
Arcseconds to Arcminutes | Go to converter |