Which longitude coordinate is closest to the prime meridian

We measure these coordinates as lines latitude and longitude. Lines of latitude start at the equator. Latitudes and longitudes make up our geographical coordinate system. We use an ellipsoid to approximate the surface of Earth. Then, we use the ellipsoid to reference all latitude and longitude coordinates to it. A datum describes the shape of the Earth in mathematical terms. Each datum specifies:. The equator is an important line on the earth's surface.

It marks the line above which the sun is directly overhead on the March and September equinoxes. The prime meridian, being an imaginary line, created by people to mark zero degrees longitude, could have been located anywhere.

Therefore, the intersection of zero degrees longitude and zero degrees latitude is of no geographic significance. However, just knowing that it is in the Gulf of Guinea may serve you well on a geography quiz, when playing "Jeopardy! Polson, John and Bruce A. Fette, Academic Press, , pp. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile.

Measure ad performance. Find out more about Greenwich Mean Time. Find out more about Airy's Transit Circle. Where longitude is the distance east or west of the Prime Meridian line, latitude is measured by the distance north or south of the equator. The intersection between these two invisble lines is in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

It's a bit harder to get a selfie standing on this spot! Between and an entirely new set of coordinate systems were adopted based on satellite data and other measurements and required a prime meridian that defined a plane passing through the centre of the Earth.

The IRM passes The entire Observatory and the historic Prime Meridian now lie to the west of the true prime meridian. Learn more about the story of the Greenwich Meridian, and Royal Observatory Greenwich's place in time, in our books. Getting here. Visit us. This lists the logos of programs or partners of NG Education which have provided or contributed the content on this page. Powered by. The prime meridian is the line of 0 longitude, the starting point for measuring distance both east and west around the Earth.

The prime meridian is arbitrary , meaning it could be chosen to be anywhere. Any line of longitude a meridian can serve as the 0 longitude line. However, there is an international agreement that the meridian that runs through Greenwich, England, is considered the official prime meridian.

Governments did not always agree that the Greenwich meridian was the prime meridian, making navigation over long distances very difficult.

Different countries published maps and charts with longitude based on the meridian passing through their capital city.