How Do GPS Coordinates Work? 🗺️
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Morning Longitude and Latitude!
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/6614b7feba11d2e759679521_1.webp)
Let’s say you’re in a treasure hunt.
And the next clue you find is this:
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/6614b79c02b6cf46ee3b71f3_2.webp)
Some random coordinates on a piece of paper…
So, what the hell even are coordinates… and how do they work?
Well, coordinates basically split the Earth up into degrees of a circle.
Here's a side-on view of the world - with the degrees going up the side:
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/6614b79c16981d2ae423d1ae_3.webp)
And here's a top-down view of the world - with the degrees going around the edge.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/6614b79c184ed84c2a9ec431_4.webp)
Ok now that you understand that, let's look at the first part of our coordinates:
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/6614b79f4a5ed0786f2ff56d_5.webp)
Let's break down what this first bit means:
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/6614b79c4b2275d8c7756a89_6.webp)
The minutes and seconds are just smaller parts of a degree to get more precision.
There's 60 seconds in a minute and 60 minutes in a degree.
I know it's weird; they aren't a time thing, just go with it.
So, this first bit is talking about roughly here on the map:
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/6614b79cd502fd613d599960_7.webp)
Well, it’s actually 40 + a bit (the bit being the minutes and seconds).
Got it??
Ok, now let's do the second bit.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/6614b79c7aa19cebcd5c944e_8.webp)
This one says 73 degrees, 58 minutes, and 15 seconds West.
So that means you're on the west side at about 73 ish degrees
Or about:
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/6614b79d14cf7c8a3039f560_9.webp)
So, now you need somewhere that's both about 40 degrees up and 73 degrees west.
And that turns out to be just about here:
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/6614b79cc28cd1caa3a629c4_10.webp)
New York!
We're getting closer…
And now, if we use the minutes and seconds for more precision, you can narrow it down to this fountain in central park.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/6614b79c84564c3b44352e79_11.webp)
Nice! So the next clue must be there.
Good luck treasure hunters!
Stay Cute,
Reece, Henry & Dylan 🌈
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