This relationship is why time zones were created. Every 15° increment away from the Prime Meridian generally represents a one-hour difference from . If you travel 15° East, you are effectively "stepping" one hour into the future. Why It Matters Today
Pilots and captains use these coordinates to chart paths across featureless oceans. meridian longitude
Every map you use, from paper charts to Google Maps, relies on this grid. This relationship is why time zones were created
We apply similar coordinate systems to map the surfaces of Mars and the Moon. Why It Matters Today Pilots and captains use
In geography, a is an imaginary half-circle that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole. Unlike lines of latitude (which are parallel circles that never touch), all meridians are the same length and intersect at the poles.
The 180° meridian (located in the Pacific Ocean) is where East meets West. This line serves as the basis for the International Date Line .