The equations to convert x,y,z to longitude and lattitude?

[CosmicVoyager]

Greetings,

I am trying to figure out how to convert an x,y,z coordinate to longitude and latitude (or right ascension and declination). Center of earth is origin, of course.

Thanks

[mgb_phys]

How accurately do you need it?
Are you just assuming a sphere or do you need an accurate geoid model, or real world DTM data?

[CosmicVoyager]

i now know that what i am looking for is called polar coordinates.

x,y,z to polar coordinates

i have only been able to find x,y to polar

[nicksauce]

Look up spherical coordinates.

[CosmicVoyager]

Look up spherical coordinates.

Thanks :smile:

[D H]

Look up spherical coordinates.
Those are not the correct equations for converting x,y,z to latitude and longitude. The Earth is not a sphere; latitude is not a spherical measure.

They are close, however. Whether they are close enough or not, we can't tell. CosmicVoyager never answered mgb_phys' question.

[nicksauce]

Those are not the correct equations for converting x,y,z to latitude and longitude. The Earth is not a sphere; latitude is not a spherical measure.

They are close, however. Whether they are close enough or not, we can't tell. CosmicVoyager never answered mgb_phys' question.

Good point.

[jasonRF]

The standard thing to do is model the earth as an ellipsoid. Check out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geodetic_system

I always use WGS84 for my ellipsoid, but not everyone does.

jason