Definitions for minute of arc
minute of arc

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. minute, arcminute, minute of arcnoun

   a unit of angular distance equal to a 60th of a degree

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. minute of arcnoun

   An angle, one sixtieth (1/60) of a degree.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. minute of arc

   A minute of arc, arcminute (arcmin), arc minute, or minute arc, denoted by the symbol ′, is a unit of angular measurement equal to 1/60 of one degree. Since one degree is 1/360 of a turn (or complete rotation), one minute of arc is 1/21600 of a turn. The nautical mile (nmi) was originally defined as the arc length of a minute of latitude on a spherical Earth, so the actual Earth circumference is very near 21600 nmi. A minute of arc is π/10800 of a radian. A second of arc, arcsecond (arcsec), or arc second, denoted by the symbol ″, is 1/60 of an arcminute, 1/3600 of a degree, 1/1296000 of a turn, and π/648000 (about 1/206264.8) of a radian. These units originated in Babylonian astronomy as sexagesimal subdivisions of the degree; they are used in fields that involve very small angles, such as astronomy, optometry, ophthalmology, optics, navigation, land surveying, and marksmanship. To express even smaller angles, standard SI prefixes can be employed; the milliarcsecond (mas) and microarcsecond (μas), for instance, are commonly used in astronomy. For a three-dimensional area such as on a sphere, square arcminutes or seconds may be used.

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Minute of arc

   A minute of arc, arcminute, or minute arc, is a unit of angular measurement equal to one sixtieth of one degree. In turn, a second of arc or arcsecond is one sixtieth of one arcminute. Since one degree is defined as one three hundred and sixtieth of a rotation, one minute of arc is ¹⁄21,600 of a rotation, which also equals π⁄10,800 radians. It is used in those fields which require a unit for the expression of small angles, such as astronomy, optometry, ophthalmology, optics, navigation and marksmanship. The number of square arcminutes in a complete sphere is or approximately 148,510,660.498 square arcminutes. The arcsecond is ¹⁄3,600 of a degree, or ¹⁄1,296,000 of a circle, or π⁄648,000 radians. To express even smaller angles, standard SI prefixes can be employed; in particular, the milliarcsecond, abbreviated mas, is used in astronomy.

Matched Categories

1. • Angular Unit

How to pronounce minute of arc?

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How to say minute of arc in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of minute of arc in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of minute of arc in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=minute of arc
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Minute_of_Arc
3. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minute_of_Arc
4. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=minute of arc