Calculate Distance Between Two Coordinates

Distance Formula:

\[ d = \sqrt{(lon2 - lon1)^2 + (lat2 - lat1)^2} \times \text{Earth\_radius (approx)} \]

Latitude 1:

degrees

Longitude 1:

degrees

Latitude 2:

degrees

Longitude 2:

degrees

Distance:

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1. What is the Distance Between Coordinates?

The distance between two geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude) represents the shortest path between two points on the Earth's surface. This calculator uses the haversine formula to compute the great-circle distance.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the haversine formula:

\[ d = 2r \arcsin\left(\sqrt{\sin^2\left(\frac{\Delta\phi}{2}\right) + \cos\phi_1 \cos\phi_2 \sin^2\left(\frac{\Delta\lambda}{2}\right)}\right) \]

Where:

\( d \) — Distance between points
\( r \) — Earth's radius (6371 km)
\( \phi \) — Latitude in radians
\( \lambda \) — Longitude in radians
\( \Delta\phi = \phi_2 - \phi_1 \)
\( \Delta\lambda = \lambda_2 - \lambda_1 \)

Explanation: The formula accounts for the spherical shape of the Earth, providing more accurate results than simple Euclidean distance calculations.

3. Importance of Distance Calculation

Details: Accurate distance calculations between coordinates are essential for navigation, logistics, geography studies, and various location-based services.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter coordinates in decimal degrees format (e.g., 40.7128 for New York). Positive values for North/East, negative for South/West. All values must be valid (-90 ≤ latitude ≤ 90, -180 ≤ longitude ≤ 180).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How accurate is this calculation?
A: The haversine formula provides accuracy within about 0.3% for most practical purposes, assuming a spherical Earth.

Q2: What's the difference between great-circle and rhumb line distance?
A: Great-circle distance is the shortest path between points, while rhumb line maintains constant bearing (longer but easier to navigate).

Q3: Can I use this for very short distances?
A: For distances under 20 km, you might consider using simpler planar approximation formulas.

Q4: What coordinate systems are supported?
A: This calculator uses standard WGS84 coordinates (latitude/longitude in decimal degrees).

Q5: How does altitude affect the calculation?
A: This calculator assumes sea level. For significant altitude differences, additional corrections would be needed.