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.
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.
| Degrees | Arcminutes |
|---|---|
0
deg
|
0
arcmin
|
5
deg
|
300
arcmin
|
10
deg
|
600
arcmin
|
15
deg
|
900
arcmin
|
20
deg
|
1200
arcmin
|
25
deg
|
1500
arcmin
|
30
deg
|
1800
arcmin
|
35
deg
|
2100
arcmin
|
40
deg
|
2400
arcmin
|
45
deg
|
2700
arcmin
|
50
deg
|
3000
arcmin
|
55
deg
|
3300
arcmin
|
60
deg
|
3600
arcmin
|
65
deg
|
3900
arcmin
|
70
deg
|
4200
arcmin
|
75
deg
|
4500
arcmin
|
80
deg
|
4800
arcmin
|
85
deg
|
5100
arcmin
|
90
deg
|
5400
arcmin
|
95
deg
|
5700
arcmin
|
100
deg
|
6000
arcmin
|
105
deg
|
6300
arcmin
|
110
deg
|
6600
arcmin
|
115
deg
|
6900
arcmin
|
120
deg
|
7200
arcmin
|
125
deg
|
7500
arcmin
|
130
deg
|
7800
arcmin
|
135
deg
|
8100
arcmin
|
140
deg
|
8400
arcmin
|
145
deg
|
8700
arcmin
|
150
deg
|
9000
arcmin
|
155
deg
|
9300
arcmin
|
160
deg
|
9600
arcmin
|
165
deg
|
9900
arcmin
|
170
deg
|
10200
arcmin
|
175
deg
|
10500
arcmin
|
180
deg
|
10800
arcmin
|
185
deg
|
11100
arcmin
|
190
deg
|
11400
arcmin
|
195
deg
|
11700
arcmin
|
200
deg
|
12000
arcmin
|
205
deg
|
12300
arcmin
|
210
deg
|
12600
arcmin
|
215
deg
|
12900
arcmin
|
220
deg
|
13200
arcmin
|
225
deg
|
13500
arcmin
|
230
deg
|
13800
arcmin
|
235
deg
|
14100
arcmin
|
240
deg
|
14400
arcmin
|
245
deg
|
14700
arcmin
|
250
deg
|
15000
arcmin
|
255
deg
|
15300
arcmin
|
260
deg
|
15600
arcmin
|
265
deg
|
15900
arcmin
|
270
deg
|
16200
arcmin
|
275
deg
|
16500
arcmin
|
280
deg
|
16800
arcmin
|
285
deg
|
17100
arcmin
|
290
deg
|
17400
arcmin
|
295
deg
|
17700
arcmin
|
300
deg
|
18000
arcmin
|
305
deg
|
18300
arcmin
|
310
deg
|
18600
arcmin
|
315
deg
|
18900
arcmin
|
320
deg
|
19200
arcmin
|
325
deg
|
19500
arcmin
|
330
deg
|
19800
arcmin
|
335
deg
|
20100
arcmin
|
340
deg
|
20400
arcmin
|
345
deg
|
20700
arcmin
|
350
deg
|
21000
arcmin
|
355
deg
|
21300
arcmin
|
360
deg
|
21600
arcmin
|
| Conversion | Call to Action |
|---|---|
| Degrees to Radians | Go to converter |
| Degrees to Gradians | Go to converter |
| Degrees to Arcseconds | Go to converter |