Great Circle Bearing Decimal Degrees Calculator
Great circle bearing (GCB) in decimal degrees is a crucial concept in navigation and geography. It’s the angle, measured in degrees, between a reference direction (usually north) and the direction of a great circle…
- Enter the latitudes and longitudes of two points.
- Click ‘Calculate’.
- View the result and chart below.
The formula used is: GCB = atan2(y, x) * (180 / π), where x and y are the differences in longitude and latitude respectively…
| Case Study | Lat 1 | Lon 1 | Lat 2 | Lon 2 | GCB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 40.7128° N | 74.0060° W | 34.0522° N | 118.2437° W | 87.6° |
| Method | GCB (degrees) |
|---|---|
| Great Circle Bearing | 87.6° |
| Inverse Tangent | 87.6° |
- Always use accurate coordinates.
- Consider the Earth’s curvature for long distances.
- Great circle bearings are not affected by Earth’s rotation.
What is the difference between great circle distance and great circle bearing?
Great circle distance is the shortest path between two points on the Earth’s surface, while great circle bearing is the angle between a reference direction and the direction of the great circle…