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I saw the following question in Yahoo Answers,
Is it even possible to know this?
Is it even possible to know this?
Where on Earth someone is
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In summary: Without longitude (and with it local time), first, the altitude doesn't tell you latitude either.The azimuth just positions you somewhere on a circle that is centered on a point where the sun is directly overhead. A compass heading could position you on that circle.This is a good point - without longitude, you would not be able to orient yourself.
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russ_watters
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If you have the time in UTC, sure.
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DrClaude
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But with what error bars?russ_watters said:
If you have no orientation information (which way is North?), then there is quite a wide band of longitude+latitude solutions, mirrored on each hemisphere.
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russ_watters
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Accurate enough to navigate a ship in the 19th century...DrClaude said:
Good point; you would have to know the hemisphere, which maybe you could see from context in the photo.
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DrClaude
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Not without a compassruss_watters said:
My point is that at any given time, the same stick length will give the same shadow length at many points on the globe. If you have no information on the orientation of the shadow, there is not much you can say.
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russ_watters
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Oh, you don't just mean the hemisphere. Yes, I see you're right; to get the longitude from the azimuth of the sun, you need the actual angle from north.DrClaude said:Not without a compass
and...now that I think about it, without longitude (and with it local time) first, the altitude doesn't tell you latitude either.
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jbriggs444
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The azimuth just positions you somewhere on a circle that is centered on a point where the sun is directly overhead. A compass heading could position you on that circle.
Edit: if the ground is not level, your navigation could be way off.
Edit: if the ground is not level, your navigation could be way off.
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sophiecentaur
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The one with the penguins in, perhaps.russ_watters said:
1. Where on Earth is the North Pole?
The North Pole is located at 90 degrees north latitude, in the Arctic Ocean. It is the most northern point on Earth and is covered by a layer of ice.
2. How can I find out my exact location on Earth?
You can find out your exact location on Earth by using a GPS (Global Positioning System) device or by looking at a map and identifying your coordinates in terms of latitude and longitude.
3. Where on Earth is the equator?
The equator is located at 0 degrees latitude and runs horizontally around the middle of the Earth. It divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
4. How do scientists determine the exact location of a place on Earth?
Scientists use a system of latitude and longitude to determine the exact location of a place on Earth. Latitude measures the distance north or south of the equator, while longitude measures the distance east or west of the Prime Meridian.
5. Can someone be in two different places on Earth at the same time?
No, it is not possible for someone to physically be in two different places on Earth at the same time. However, with the use of technology such as video conferencing, it is possible for someone to virtually be in two places at once.