Convert Angle from arcminutes to degrees (arcmin to deg)

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.

What is a Degree (deg or °)?

In geometry and everyday life, we measure angles using degrees.

A degree (represented by the universal symbol °) is the basic unit for measuring rotation. It helps us describe the amount of turn between two lines that meet at a point.

For instance, a perfect corner, like the edge of a book, is a 90° right angle, and one complete, full-circle rotation measures 360°.

Why Are There 360 Degrees in a Circle?

The standard of a circle containing 360 degrees (360°) originated with the ancient Babylonians.

They used a base-60 (sexagesimal) number system, and 360 was a perfect number for them because it is highly divisible. Its large number of factors made it incredibly easy to perform fractional calculations in fields like astronomy and geometry.

How to Measure Angles Smaller Than a Degree

For fields that require extreme precision, like astronomy, cartography (map-making), and GPS navigation, a single degree is broken down into even smaller units:

• One degree is subdivided into 60 arcminutes (symbolized as ').
• Each arcminute is further divided into 60 arcseconds (symbolized as ").

This system ensures that even the tiniest angles can be measured with high accuracy.