Latitude is a geographic coordinate that indicates your north-south position on the earth's surface. You can find the latitude of your position using the internet, a map, a compass, or other means. If you want to know how to find out the latitude of your position, follow the steps below.
Step
Step 1. Use the online latitude finder
If you search for "how to find out your latitude", several sites that can help you will come up. The only information that sites like this need is your address and you can find out the latitude of your position in a few seconds. The NASA site is a great site because when you type in your address, you can move your mouse over the area you live in to track latitude and longitude precisely. Be sure to use sites that don't charge a fee and your personal financial information.
Step 2. Use Google Maps
You can also find out the latitude of your position quickly by using Google Maps. Here's what you should do:
- Visit the Google Maps site.
- Type in your address.
- Double click on your address and select "What's here?"
- Record your latitude and longitude. You will be given the latitude first.
Step 3. Use the map
There are times when we can't use "Google". You can find the latitude of your position by opening the map (you can also open an online map), then search for your location on the map. It's less accurate than typing your address online, but you can still get pretty precise results, if you know how to read a map. Latitude is a horizontal line and longitude is a vertical line. Find your location and use a ruler or flat object to draw a straight line from your location to the nearest latitude marker. That's how to find out the latitude of your position.
Step 4. Use the Pole Star and a compass
While this method may take longer than usual, it is more interesting because you can use scientific methods to determine your position. Here are the steps you should take:
- Find the Big Dipper. This constellation is also referred to as Ursa Major or the Big Dipper and looks like a dipper.
- Find the back of the Big Dipper. This is the outermost part of the Big Dipper which is also the star furthest from the handle of the dipper.
- Measure the back of the Big Dipper and use four times that length to find the Pole Star. You can use the constellation Cassiopeia, the symbol of a seated queen shaped like the letter "W", which is equidistant from the Pole Star. The position of this star will never change.
- Use the top point of the starlight to align the star with the Pole Star.
- Take a protractor and measure the angle between the star's rays and the measured horizon to be perpendicular to the horizon line. This angle is your latitude.
Step 5. Use the astrolabe
If you have an astrolabe, lie down on the ground and look for the Pole Star (use step four for help). Use your astrolabe to find the elevation of the Pole Star and record the results. The result you record is your peak angle. Then, subtract the angle by 90⁰ to get your latitude point.
This method is not the easiest way, but the most fun method! You can make your own astrolabe using only a protractor, a plastic straw, a metal weight, and a piece of string. Tie one end of the string through the hole in the middle of the protractor and place the weight on the other end. The last thing you have to do is stick the straw to the edge of the protractor and your homemade astrolabe can start working
Tips
The quick way: the elevation to Polaris is the same as the observer's latitude
Warning
- This method of measuring using stars is only valid in the Northern Hemisphere!
- Polaris will remain the Pole Star until 7500 and will be replaced by Alpha Cepheid due to changes in Earth's axis and rotation.
