Great circle

Great_circle,_axis,_and_poles.svg

== Great Circle ==

A great circle is the largest possible circle that can be drawn on a sphere. It is the intersection of the sphere with a plane that passes through the center of the sphere. Great circles are significant in various fields such as geography, navigation, and astronomy.

Properties

Great circles have several important properties:

• They divide the sphere into two equal hemispheres.
• The shortest path between any two points on the surface of a sphere lies along the arc of a great circle. This is known as a geodesic.
• All longitude lines on the Earth are great circles, as is the Equator.

Applications

Navigation

In navigation, great circles are used to find the shortest path between two points on the Earth's surface. This is particularly important in aviation and maritime navigation. The concept of great circle routes is essential for airlines to minimize fuel consumption and travel time.

Astronomy

In astronomy, great circles are used to define the celestial sphere. The celestial equator and the ecliptic are examples of great circles on the celestial sphere. These circles are crucial for understanding the apparent motion of celestial bodies.

Examples

• The Equator is a great circle that divides the Earth into the northern and southern hemispheres.
• The Prime Meridian and the International Date Line are examples of great circles that divide the Earth into the eastern and western hemispheres.

See Also

• Geodesic
• Sphere
• Celestial sphere
• Equator
• Prime Meridian