Arc second meaning

An arc second is a unit of measurement for angles, where one second of arc is equivalent to 1/3600th of a degree.


Arc second definitions

Word backwards cra dnoces
Part of speech The part of speech of the word "arc second" is a noun.
Syllabic division arc / sec-ond
Plural The plural of the word "arc second" is "arc seconds."
Total letters 9
Vogais (3) a,e,o
Consonants (5) r,c,s,n,d

Arc second is a unit of angular measurement that is equal to 1/3600 of a degree. It is commonly used in astronomy, geodesy, and navigation to measure small angles with precision.

One arc second is equivalent to 1/60 of an arc minute and 1/3600 of a degree. This small unit of measurement is often necessary when dealing with very distant or small objects in space or when precise measurements are required on Earth.

Usage in Astronomy

In astronomy, arc seconds are used to measure the apparent size of celestial objects in the sky. For example, the angular diameter of the Moon is approximately 1,800 arc seconds, while the angular size of a star may be a fraction of an arc second.

Geodesy and Navigation

In geodesy, arc seconds are used to measure the shape and size of the Earth. High-precision measurements of angles are essential for creating accurate maps and determining the exact positions of points on the Earth's surface.

Practical Applications

Arc seconds are also used in navigation systems, such as GPS, to pinpoint locations on Earth with great accuracy. By using satellites to measure angles in space, these systems can determine exact positions on the ground within a few meters.

Overall, the use of arc seconds allows for precise angular measurements in various fields and plays a crucial role in our understanding of the universe and the world around us.


Arc second Examples

  1. The telescope has a precision of measuring angles down to 0.1 arc second.
  2. Astronomers use arc seconds to measure the apparent size of celestial bodies.
  3. The satellite's camera can capture images with a resolution of 0.5 arc second per pixel.
  4. The arc second measurement helps in determining the accuracy of star positions.
  5. In astronomy, arc seconds are commonly used to describe angular distances.
  6. The new lens design has reduced the optical aberrations to less than 1 arc second.
  7. Navigational devices rely on arc seconds for precise location tracking.
  8. The star tracker can detect movements as small as 0.01 arc second per hour.
  9. The astrophotographer captured a stunning image with a total exposure time of 1200 arc seconds.
  10. Researchers are studying the parallax of nearby stars using milliarcseconds measurements.


Most accessed

Search the alphabet

  • #
  • Aa
  • Bb
  • Cc
  • Dd
  • Ee
  • Ff
  • Gg
  • Hh
  • Ii
  • Jj
  • Kk
  • Ll
  • Mm
  • Nn
  • Oo
  • Pp
  • Qq
  • Rr
  • Ss
  • Tt
  • Uu
  • Vv
  • Ww
  • Xx
  • Yy
  • Zz
  • Updated 20/05/2024 - 18:56:55