How to convert degree to kilometres

[NinhTH]

Hello friend,
Do you know how to convert 1 degree to kilometres in space?
Ex: one satellite orbit is 130E and another 131E so how many kilometre between two satelite? thank you

 

[ozumo]

Distance of geostationary orbit to earth equator + distance from earth surface to the centre of the earth's core is your radius. Then work out diameter of a circle based on that radius, then divide by 360 for distance per degree. Of course that is distance around the circle's diameter, not in a straight line as the alien flies.

 

[hvdh]

Geostationary orbit - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Clarke belt radius is 6378 km (earth at equator) + 35786 km (GEO altitude) = 42164 km.
Clarke belt circumference is 2 * pi * 42164 = 264924 km
1 degree on the belt is 264924 / 360 = 736 km
Note: this is the distance as measured on the belt (curved).

Distance in a straight line is
2 * 42164 * sin ( degree difference / 2 )

 

[Lazarus]

Nobody has mentioned Radians yet?


(Whoops, I just did, but think I might have got away with it)

 

[Analoguesat]

Wont be accurate to more than a few kms anyway seeing as every satellite moves continually around its nominal slot.

 

[NinhTH]

Geostationary orbit - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Clarke belt radius is 6378 km (earth at equator) + 35786 km (GEO altitude) = 42164 km.
Clarke belt circumference is 2 * pi * 42164 = 264924 km
1 degree on the belt is 264924 / 360 = 736 km
Note: this is the distance as measured on the belt (curved).

Distance in a straight line is
2 * 42164 * sin ( degree difference / 2 )

Thank you so much

 

[a33]

Are you having plans of traveling there?

(Just curious to what you want to do with this knowledge...)


Greetz,
A33

 

[Terryl]

Been there, not much going on these days.