This calculator determines the distance between two positions on the earth's surface, using the "plain sailing" method, which connects the two points by a straight line. (This method should therefore not be used for large distances, or the straight line will go through the earth's interior.) The convention is that north latitudes and west longitudes are positive, south latitudes and east longitudes are negative.
© 2000 M. Tomczak. Last updated 2 April 2000