How to Discover coordinates or search by latitude & longitude

Fri-Dec-2023
13

Discovering coordinates or searching by latitude and longitude is surprisingly versatile! Here are three main ways you can do it:

1. Finding Coordinates:

  • Use online tools:
    • Google Maps: Open Google Maps on your computer or phone. Click on a specific location on the map and the latitude and longitude coordinates will appear in the search bar. You can also right-click on the location and choose “What’s here?” to see the details, including coordinates.
    • Latlong.net: This website lets you search for a place by name and it will display its coordinates. You can also click on a map to see the coordinates of that location.
    • OpenStreetMap: Similar to Google Maps, this open-source platform allows you to click on a location and see its coordinates.
  • Use GPS-enabled devices:
    • Smartphones: Most smartphones have GPS built-in, and many apps, like hiking apps or geocaching apps, will display your current coordinates.
    • GPS devices: Dedicated GPS devices are still popular for outdoor activities and navigation. They will typically display your current latitude and longitude.
  • Extract from photos:
    • Some photo editing software, like ExifTool, can extract GPS coordinates embedded in the metadata of photos taken with GPS-enabled cameras.

2. Searching by Latitude & Longitude:

  • Use online maps:
    • Google Maps: On your computer or phone, simply enter the coordinates in the search bar. You can use different formats, like decimal degrees (41.40338, 2.17403), degrees, minutes, and seconds (41°24’12.2″N 2°10’26.5″E), or degrees and decimal minutes (41 24.2028, 2 10.4418).
    • OpenStreetMap: You can directly input coordinates in the search bar similar to Google Maps.
  • Use location-based services:
    • Some weather apps or traffic apps allow you to search for locations by entering their coordinates.
    • If you know the coordinates of a specific point of interest, like a historical landmark, you can search for it online using its coordinates and discover more information about it.

3. Additional Tips:

  • Be aware of different coordinate formats and use the correct one for your chosen tool.
  • When searching by coordinates, pay attention to the precision of the values. More decimal places often indicate a more precise location.
  • Some online tools offer features like reverse geocoding, where you can enter coordinates and get the corresponding place name.