Convert Seconds (") to Degrees (°)
1 second equals 0.000277778 degrees.
Second to Degree Converter
How to Convert Second to Degree
1 second = 0.000277778 degrees
Degree = Second × 0.000277778
Example: 1" × 0.000277778 = 0.000277778°
Reverse Conversion
To convert degrees back to seconds:
- Remember, 1 degree equals 3600 seconds.
- To convert 0.000277778° to", multiply
0.000277778 x 3600, resulting in1".
Common Second to Degree Conversions
| Second | Degree | Actions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 second | 0.000277778 degrees | |
| 5 seconds | 0.00138889 degrees | |
| 10 seconds | 0.00277778 degrees | |
| 25 seconds | 0.00694444 degrees |
| Second | Degree | Actions |
|---|---|---|
| 50 seconds | 0.0138889 degrees | |
| 100 seconds | 0.0277778 degrees | |
| 500 seconds | 0.138889 degrees | |
| 1000 seconds | 0.277778 degrees |
Seconds to degrees Conversion Table
Reference table with common seconds to degrees conversions. All values calculated with high precision.
Seconds to Degrees Table
10000 to 1 × 109
Degrees to Seconds Table
1 to 100000
Definition of Second
- Definition
An arcsecond (second of arc) is 1/60 of an arcminute.
It is common in astronomy, surveying, astrometry, and precision optics for high-precision angles.
- Exact factor
- 1″ = 1/3600° = π/648,000 rad (exact)
- Examples
- 60″ = 1′
- 3600″ = 1°
Definition of Degree
- Definition
The degree (°) is a non-SI unit of plane angle defined as 1/360 of a full rotation.
It is accepted for use with the SI due to its long-standing practical importance in navigation, surveying, engineering, astronomy, geodesy, and daily measurement.
- Exact factor
- 1° = π/180 rad (exact)
- Examples
- 90° = π/2 rad
- 45° = π/4 rad
- 360° = 1 turn
About the Second
Facts & Uses
- 1 arcsecond (″) = 1/60 of an arcminute = 1/3600 of a degree. NOT to be confused with the time second.
- Standard for high-precision astronomy: stellar parallax, planetary positions, telescope angular resolution.
- Used in geodesy (GPS positioning, plate tectonics measurement), gravitational lensing, and VLBI radio astronomy.
- The parsec (a key astronomical distance unit) is defined as the distance at which 1 AU subtends 1 arcsecond of parallax — about 3.26 light-years.
Curiosities
- The arcsecond symbol ″ (double prime, U+2033) is distinct from the quotation mark ("); proper Unicode usage is important in scientific publishing.
- The Hubble Space Telescope has angular resolution of about 0.05 arcsec; JWST reaches ~0.07 arcsec at infrared wavelengths but with a 6.5 m mirror vs Hubble's 2.4 m.
- Continental drift: tectonic plates move ~2-10 cm per year, which corresponds to angular displacements of tens of milliarcseconds per year — measurable by VLBI.
- Approximate equivalents: 1 arcsecond = 1/3600° ≈ 4.848 × 10⁻⁶ rad ≈ 4.848 microradians.
Sources
About the Degree
Facts & Uses
- Universal everyday angle unit: 1 full circle = 360°. Used in navigation, geometry, surveying, and almost all non-mathematical contexts.
- Standard for compass headings, latitude/longitude, roof pitch, camera fields of view, and geometric construction.
- Subdivisions: 1° = 60 arcminutes (′) = 3600 arcseconds (″); commonly used in astronomy and high-precision surveying.
- Common reference angles: 30°, 45°, 60°, 90° (right angle), 180° (straight angle), 360° (full circle).
Curiosities
- The 360° convention dates back to ancient Babylonian astronomy (~2400 BCE), based on a sexagesimal (base-60) number system and an approximation of 360 days per year.
- 360 was kept partly because of its many divisors: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15, 18, 20, 24… — making fractions of a circle easy without decimals.
- The degree is not part of the SI but is one of the units accepted for use with the SI system.
- Approximate equivalents: 1° = π/180 rad ≈ 0.01745 rad ≈ 1.111 grad.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How many degrees are in one second?
One second equals 0.000277778 degrees. To convert, multiply the second value by 0.000277778. For the reverse, divide the degree value by 0.000277778 (or multiply by 3600).
What is 20 seconds in degrees?
20 seconds = 0.0055556 degrees. This is one of the most commonly searched conversions for this pair.
Is the second-to-degree conversion exact?
Yes. The factor 0.000277778 is exact by international definition, not an approximation. Any imprecision comes only from the original measurement, not the conversion.
Looking for the reverse? Convert Degree to Second
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