Azimuth Calculator

What Is Azimuth?

Azimuth is the horizontal angle measured clockwise from true North to a target point. It is used in navigation, astronomy, surveying, and satellite dish alignment. Values range from 0° (North) to 360°.

Azimuth and Distance Formulas

Given two points with latitude $\phi$ and longitude $\lambda$, the Haversine distance is:

$$ d = 2R \cdot \arctan2\left(\sqrt{a}, \sqrt{1-a}\right) $$

where $a = \sin^2(\Delta\phi/2) + \cos\phi_1 \cos\phi_2 \sin^2(\Delta\lambda/2)$ and $R = 6371$ km.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I set my satellite dish azimuth?

Point the dish at the azimuth angle clockwise from North. East is 90°, South is 180°, West is 270°. Combine with elevation for full alignment.

Is azimuth the same as bearing?

Yes, in navigation azimuth and bearing both describe the direction from your position to a target, measured clockwise from North.

What coordinate format should I use?

Use decimal degrees. Positive latitude is North, negative is South. Positive longitude is East, negative is West.

What is the azimuth from London to Rio de Janeiro?

From London (51.5°N, 0°E) to Rio (-22.97°S, -43.18°W), the azimuth is about 219° (southwest) and distance is about 9,289 km.

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What Is Azimuth?

Azimuth and Distance Formulas

Frequently Asked Questions

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