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Latitude And Longitude

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Chasingcars | 16:43 Wed 23rd Jul 2014 | How it Works
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If writing latitude and longitude in the format of DMS, should the N/E/S/W go at the start or the end, or does it not matter?
I am having a bracelet engraved for a friend with a special location so want to make sure I am doing it correctly! Thank you.
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Like this, according to Google:

Latitude:N 38° 41' 7.8351"

Longitude:W 96° 30' 14.0625"
Question Author
Thanks boxtops, silly question but do you know where the degree symbol is on the keyboard?
you could simply copy boxtops' co-ordinates and then substitute your own values.
eg.
Longitude:W 00 °00 '00 "
Question Author
Thanks, good idea, that worked fine! However, last problem which I didn't know before is I am restricted to 35 characters for engraving...do you know I can shorten the location below, meaning it is still the same location but would fit for purpose of my engraving?!

Lat N 50° 50' 21.243" Long W0° 47' 53.455"

For example, with a postcode you can take the last letter off it but still be in the same street, just not at an exact house.
Could I take the last 3 off the latitude and 5 off the longitude?
I'd suggest that you omit the "Lat" and "Long" as "N" and the "W" would suffice.
alt and 248, on numerical keyboard, for degree symbol °
You could surely take off the seconds after the decimal point - that's very precise as you are showing it!
Question Author
How much difference would taking off the seconds make boxtops? Would it be the difference in say a metre in the location or more/less?
I know its very precise but i could maybe less precise depending on the variation taken off the seconds gives!
At the equator, 1 degree of longitude is 60 nautical miles (~69 miles) so the arcminutes are 1.15 miles, the seconds are 33.73 yards so the first decimal point is 3.3 yards.
If it were buried treasure, you'd need the second decimal point.

N50°50'30.123" is 14chrs
W03°30'30.123" is 14chrs
add the space characters where you'd like them.
Regarding postcodes, the last character might specify a plot as small as hslf a dozen houses or as large as a whole street. Presumably removing it increases the ambiguity from 1 street to 26 streets. :-/

You used to be able to find a list of local postcodes in the phonebook but we don't need those any more, thanks to t'internet.
Details of latitude / longitude to distance here
http://geography.about.com/library/faq/blqzdistancedegree.htm
Question Author
Thanks Hypognosis, thats really helpful.
So in my case, my latitude and longitude reference was related to a classroom where I met my friend at school...am I understanding you correctly if i take off the third character after the decimal place, that means my location would be less specific by about part of 3 yards?
You're complicating things. As I suggested, omit it "Lat" and the "Long" (they're superfluous here), and as Hypognosis suggested, enter the coordinates with no spaces.
I wonder how many people are using Google Earth to plot the intersection of those coordinates you gave, Chasingcars.
Question Author
Thank you Stuey, yes going to go with your suggestion, but just just curious now for my own interest!
Haha yes I did wonder the same about who may start googling,
@Chasingcars

//Thanks Hypognosis, thats really helpful.
So in my case, my latitude and longitude reference was related to a classroom where I met my friend at school...am I understanding you correctly if i take off the third character after the decimal place, that means my location would be less specific by about part of 3 yards?//

3-yard accuracy should be good enough for a room.

I was saying that a single decimal place eg N50°50'21.2" would be accurate to 3 yards in the N-S axis and can add that it is better than 3 yards in the W-E axis, due to convergence of longitude lines, according to latitude.

I have to add, Chasingcars, that I think your idea for a gift like this to someone of importance to you is quite different and well thought of.

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