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What Is an Arcminute (arcmin)?

An arcminute (plural: arcminutes) is a precise unit of angular measurement, equal to 1/60th of a degree.

It provides a way to measure very small angles with high accuracy and is frequently used in scientific and technical fields. The common abbreviation for arcminute is arcmin.

How Many Arcminutes Are in a Degree?

There are precisely 60 arcminutes within a single degree.

This relationship is a core part of the "degrees, minutes, seconds" (DMS) system of measurement, which breaks down angles into smaller parts for greater precision.

• 1 degree (°) = 60 arcminutes (′)

What Is the Symbol for an Arcminute?

The universally recognized symbol for an arcminute is the prime symbol (′).

This symbol is placed directly after the number to denote the measurement. For example, an angle of 45 and a half degrees can be expressed as 45° 30′.

What Are Arcminutes Used For?

Arcminutes are essential in fields that demand precise angular resolution. Key applications include:

• Astronomy: Astronomers use arcminutes to measure the apparent size of celestial objects as seen from Earth and the distance between them in the sky.

• Navigation: In celestial navigation and cartography, one arcminute of latitude along any meridian on the Earth's surface is approximately equal to one nautical mile.

• Surveying: Surveyors use arcminutes to measure land boundaries and features over long distances accurately.