A great circle is a circle on the surface of a sphere that has the same center as the sphere. It is the largest circle that can be drawn on a sphere and divides it into two equal halves.
The distance between two points on a great circle can be calculated using the haversine formula, which takes into account the curvature of the Earth's surface. This formula uses the latitude and longitude coordinates of the two points to calculate the distance between them.
The great circle is important in navigation because it is the shortest distance between two points on the Earth's surface. It is used in aviation and marine navigation to determine the most efficient routes between two locations.
To find all points on a great circle, you can use the equation of the circle which involves the radius, center point, and angle of rotation. Alternatively, you can use a mapping tool or software that can calculate and plot all points on a great circle.
Great circles can be found on any spherical object, including planets. As long as the object has a curved surface, a great circle can be drawn on it. However, on planets with irregular shapes, the great circle may not be the shortest distance between two points due to varying curvatures.