long. definition of long. in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

longitude (lŏn`jĭt

d'), angular distance on the earth's surface measured along any latitude line such as the equator east or west of the prime meridian prime meridian, meridian that is designated zero degree (0°) longitude, from which all other longitudes are measured. By international convention, it passes through the original site of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England; for this reason, it is sometimes
..... Click the link for more information. . A meridian of longitude is an imaginary line on the earth's surface from pole to pole; two opposite meridians form a great circle dividing the earth into two hemispheres. By international agreement, the meridian passing through the original site of the Royal Greenwich Observatory Royal Greenwich Observatory, astronomical observatory established in 1675 by Charles II of England; formerly known as the Royal Observatory and located at Greenwich, it moved to Herstmonceux Castle, Sussex, in 1946. In the 1990 new headquarters at Cambridge Univ.
..... Click the link for more information. at Greenwich, England, is designated the prime meridian, and all points along it are at 0° longitude. All other points on the earth have longitudes ranging from 0° to 180°E or from 0° to 180°W. Except where it is changed to account for populated areas, the international date line international date line, imaginary line on the earth's surface, generally following the 180° meridian of longitude , where, by international agreement, travelers change dates.
..... Click the link for more information. lies along the 180° meridian. Meridians of longitude and parallels of latitude latitude, angular distance of any point on the surface of the earth north or south of the equator. The equator is latitude 0°, and the North Pole and South Pole are latitudes 90°N and 90°S, respectively.
..... Click the link for more information. together form a grid by which any position on the earth's surface can be specified. The term longitude is also used in various celestial coordinate systems (see ecliptic coordinate system ecliptic coordinate system, an astronomical coordinate system in which the principal coordinate axis is the ecliptic , the apparent path of the sun through the heavens.
..... Click the link for more information. ).

The east/west location on earth. For details of latitude/longitude positioning, see latitude.

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