GEOGRAPHY & CARTOGRAPHY CALCULATOR
Haversine Distance
A precise tool.
What is the Haversine Distance & How does it work?
Geographic positions are expressed as latitude and longitude, angular measurements that locate any point on the Earth’s surface relative to the equator and the prime meridian.
The shortest path between two points on a sphere is called a greatβcircle route. Calculating its length requires converting angular differences into linear distance.
d = 2R\arcsin\Bigl(\sqrt{\sin^{2}\Bigl(\frac{\Delta\varphi}{2}\Bigr) + \cos\varphi_{1}\cos\varphi_{2}\sin^{2}\Bigl(\frac{\Delta\lambda}{2}\Bigr)}\Bigr)
R = mean Earth radius (km)
The Haversine formula implements this relationship using the haversine trigonometric function, providing robust results even for antipodal points.
Parameters
Result
β
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Haversine Distance?
Haversine Distance calculates the shortest path between two points on a sphere, like the Earth, using their latitude and longitude.
How do I use this calculator to find the distance between two cities?
Enter the latitude and longitude of each city into the respective fields, then click calculate to get the great-circle distance.
What is a great-circle route?
A great-circle route is the shortest path between two points on the surface of a sphere, such as the Earth.
Why do we use radians in this calculation?
Radians are used because they simplify the trigonometric functions in the Haversine formula, making it easier to calculate distances accurately.
Can I use this calculator for any spherical object?
Yes, while it’s primarily used for Earth, you can adapt it for other spherical objects by changing the radius value (R) in the formula.
What is the difference between Haversine and Vincenty formulas?
The Haversine formula assumes a spherical Earth, while the Vincenty formula accounts for the Earth’s ellipsoid shape, providing more accurate results over long distances.
How do I convert degrees to radians for this calculation?
To convert degrees to radians, multiply the degree value by Ο/180. This conversion is necessary because trigonometric functions in most calculators and programming languages use radians.
Results are for informational purposes only and do not constitute professional advice.