The latitude of a place on the Earth's surface

The latitude of a place on the Earth's surface is the angular distance north or south of the equator.[2] Latitude is usually expressed in degrees (marked with °) ranging from 0° at the Equator to 90° at the North and South poles.[2] The latitude of the North Pole is 90° N, and the latitude of the South Pole is 90° S.[2] Historically, mariners calculated latitude in the Northern Hemisphere by sighting the North Star Polaris with a sextant and sight reduction tables to take out error for height of eye and atmospheric refraction. Generally, the height of Polaris in degrees of arc above the horizon is the latitude of the observer.

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