How is the latitude measurement determined?

Latitude measurement is determined by the angular distance from the equator. This is expressed in degrees, with the equator itself at 0 degrees latitude and the poles at 90 degrees north and 90 degrees south. The latitude lines, known as parallels, run east-west and indicate the position of a location north or south of the equator.

This method of measuring latitude is based on the Earth's spherical shape and its relationship to the sun, where one can determine their position by observing the angle of celestial bodies above the horizon. For example, at the equator, the angle to the North Star (Polaris) is 0 degrees, while at the North Pole, the angle is 90 degrees. This angular system enables navigators and geographers to pinpoint locations accurately across the globe, emphasizing the importance of angular measurement in defining latitude.