Degrees to Arcseconds Converter
Convert angle measurements from degrees to arcseconds (seconds of arc). Essential for precision astronomy, geodesy, and scientific measurements.
Common Degrees to Arcseconds Conversions
| Degrees (°) | Arcseconds (") |
|---|---|
| 0.001° | 3.6" |
| 0.01° | 36" |
| 0.1° | 360" |
| 0.5° | 1,800" |
| 1° | 3,600" |
| 5° | 18,000" |
| 10° | 36,000" |
| 90° | 324,000" |
How to Convert Degrees to Arcseconds
One degree equals 3,600 arcseconds (60 arcminutes × 60 arcseconds per arcminute). Multiply degrees by 3,600 to get arcseconds.
The Conversion Formula
Example: Converting 0.5 Degrees to Arcseconds
arcseconds = 0.5° × 3600 = 1,800"
Example: Converting 0.01 Degrees to Arcseconds
arcseconds = 0.01° × 3600 = 36"
What Is an Arcsecond?
An arcsecond (also called second of arc) is 1/3600 of a degree or 1/60 of an arcminute. It's denoted by a double prime symbol ("). Arcseconds provide extremely fine angular resolution.
Perspective on size:
- 1 arcsecond ≈ the width of a dime (18mm) seen from 4 km away
- The Sun's apparent diameter is about 1,920 arcseconds
- Human eye resolution is typically 60-120 arcseconds
- Modern telescopes can resolve fractions of an arcsecond
Applications
Astronomy: Stellar parallax, angular sizes of planets, and telescope resolution are measured in arcseconds.
Geodesy: Precise land surveying and GPS systems work with sub-arcsecond accuracy.
Satellite Tracking: Satellite positions are specified to arcsecond precision for accurate tracking.