Difference between revisions of "Coordinates"

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[[Image:Coordinates.jpg|thumb|right|300px|A set of coordinates]]
 
[[Image:Coordinates.jpg|thumb|right|300px|A set of coordinates]]
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[[Coordinates]] are a means of numerical description for a location on the earths' surface. [[Geocaching]] uses coordinates of [[Latitude]] and [[Longitude]] (Lat/Lon) to describe the location of the cache or its intermediate [[waypoint]]s.
 
  
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For the purposes of geocaching, Lat/Lon coordinates are expressed in Degrees, Minutes, decimal minutes ( DDD°MM.mmm' ), but for purposes of general navigation (especially at sea) Lat/Lon is expressed in Degrees, Minutes and Seconds ( DDD°MM'SS" ).
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[[Coordinates]] are a set of numbers used to define a location.
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[[Geocaching]] uses coordinates of [[Latitude]] and [[Longitude]] (Lat/Lon) to describe the location of the [[cache]] or its  [[waypoint]]s.
  
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An alternate system of coordinates is UTM, which is short for [http://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/FieldMethods/UTMSystem.htm Universal Transverse Mercator]. UTM would be a better system to use for geocaching, because it's more accurate and, being based on the metric system, it's better suited to terrestial applications. However, even though geocaching.com lists UTM as well as [[Latitude and longitude | Lat/Lon]], very few cachers or [[waypoint_management_software | waypoint management programs]] seem to use it.
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==Format==
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There are three commonly used formats for [[coordinates]]:
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* DDD° MM.mmm' - Degrees and decimal minutes - used in [[geocaching]]
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* DDD° MM'SS" - Degrees, minutes and seconds - used in general naviation, particularly nautical navigation
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* UTM - [http://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/FieldMethods/UTMSystem.htm Universal Transverse Mercator] - UTM would be a better system to use for geocaching, because it's more accurate and, being based on the metric system, it's better suited to terrestial applications. However, even though [[geocaching.com]] lists UTM as well as [[Latitude and longitude|Lat/Lon]], very few cachers or [[waypoint_management_software|waypoint management programs]] seem to use it.
  
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The other component of a set of [[coordinates]] is the datum used. Geocache listings use the [[WGS84]] datum, and your [[GPS | GPSr]] needs to be set to this.
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==Datum==
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[[Coordinates]] are based on a [[datum]].
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[[Category:Glossary]]
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Geocache listings use the [[WGS84]] datum, and your [[GPS]] needs to be set to this.

Revision as of 16:31, 24 December 2005

A set of coordinates

Coordinates are a set of numbers used to define a location. Geocaching uses coordinates of Latitude and Longitude (Lat/Lon) to describe the location of the cache or its waypoints.

Format

There are three commonly used formats for coordinates:

  • DDD° MM.mmm' - Degrees and decimal minutes - used in geocaching
  • DDD° MM'SS" - Degrees, minutes and seconds - used in general naviation, particularly nautical navigation
  • UTM - Universal Transverse Mercator - UTM would be a better system to use for geocaching, because it's more accurate and, being based on the metric system, it's better suited to terrestial applications. However, even though geocaching.com lists UTM as well as Lat/Lon, very few cachers or waypoint management programs seem to use it.

Datum

Coordinates are based on a datum. Geocache listings use the WGS84 datum, and your GPS needs to be set to this.

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