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Latitude and Longitude

Latitude is lines of position that run parallel to the equator. These lines are measured in degrees north or south of the equator. A typical reading would be N 45 30’. Each degree is exactly 60 miles. A minute of latitude is equal to a mile. That’s were the expression a mile a minute comes from.

Longitude is lines called meridians that slice up the earth from east to west. The prime meridian runs through Greenwich England and has a value of 0 degrees. All other meridians have a value of east or west of the prime meridian. A typical reading would be west 100 degrees 30 minutes. Here the minutes are not a mile as the distance increases as one approaches the equator.

The latitude and longitude lines are always in black on your chart. You must line up a red line on the Charting Pal with a black line on your chart. When navigating, the meridians are preferable as they always point true north.