A prime meridian is an arbitrarily chosen meridian (a line of longitude) in a geographic coordinate system at which longitude is defined to be 0°. On a spheroid, a prime meridian and its anti-meridian (the 180th meridian in a 360°-system) form a great ellipse.

May 3, 2024 · Zero degrees latitude is the line designating the Equator and divides the Earth into two equal hemispheres (north and south). The equator is the longest line of latitude, encircling the Earth horizontally at an equal distance from the North and South Poles. It measures approximately 40,075 kilometers (24,901 miles) in circumference.

Greenwich meridian, an imaginary line, last established in 1851, used to indicate zero degrees longitude. It passes through Greenwich, London, and ends at the North and South poles. Because it indicated zero degrees longitude, it was also known as the prime meridian.

Sep 14, 2024 · Though invisible, the equator (0 degrees latitude) is a real location that divides the world into the Northern and Southern hemispheres. Scholars created the prime meridian (0 degrees longitude) as a frame of reference to begin noting east-west points on the map.

Oct 19, 2023 · The prime meridian is the line of 0° longitude, the starting point for measuring distance both east and west around 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.

Jun 26, 2023 · The Prime Meridian is an imaginary line that divides the Earth into Eastern and Western Hemispheres. It is the longitude line with a value of 0 degrees and runs from the North Pole to the South Pole, passing through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London.

The IERS Reference Meridian (IRM), also called the International Reference Meridian, is the prime meridian (0° longitude) maintained by the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS).

Feb 16, 2025 · To put it simply, the Prime Meridian represents 0° longitude. Longitude measures how far east or west a location is from the Prime Meridian. Unlike latitude, which is naturally determined by the Earth’s rotation and the equator, there isn’t an inherent physical characteristic that dictates where the 0° longitude line should be.

Feb 12, 2025 · The short answer is: 0 degrees longitude is neither east nor west. It is the prime meridian, the starting point for measuring longitude. It serves as the zero reference point, much like the number zero itself in a number line.

Jan 20, 2025 · The Prime Meridian: Defining Zero Degrees Longitude. The line at zero degrees longitude is called the Prime Meridian. This invisible but crucial line acts as the foundational reference point for measuring longitude on Earth. It’s more than just a line; it’s the cornerstone of our global coordinate system and timekeeping.