Jors

Rob,

Since the Earth's quarter circumference is roughly 10 000 km, (Earth
radius=6367 km) and is divided in 90 degrees, that gives roughly 111 km in
one degree of latitude (moving North-South). Moving East-West, that distance
reduces to 111km x cos(latitude) - since the meridians converge towards the
poles. Thus 1 arc minute = 1,8km; 1 arc second = 30m. (same cos rule apply)
Makes any sense?
BTW, the original definition of one metre used to be 1/10 000 000 the
quarter circumference of the earth.

P.S. Then there is 1.6 km to the mile.....

Jors.

"Robert Solomon" <rob@drrob1.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.19b1a3a0c08d292f9896aa@news-server.optonline.net...
> I don't know if this is the proper place to ask this, but I was
> wondering how big a degree is, on the surface that is. Or where should
> I look?
>
> Thanks,
> Rob