great circle
Sphere's largest circumference
A great circle is a circle that divides a sphere into two equal halves.
On the globe, the equator is a great circle.
Midpoint circle of rotation
- meridianPole-to-pole great circle
- prime meridianZero-degree longitude line
- Tropic of CancerNorthern tropical boundary
- Tropic of CapricornSouthern solstice latitude marker
latitude · longitude · parallel · geodesy · cartography · map projection · azimuthal · spheroid
Posture or orientation
- coursePlanned path forward
- sextantMaritime angular measurement device
- celestial navigationLocation-finding via astronomical observation
- dead reckoningPosition-tracking via estimated motion
waypoint · compass · nautical mile · heading · azimuth · geodesic · shortest path · flight path
Perfectly round solid
- arcCurved line segment
- planeWinged flying vehicle
- diameterDistance across through center
- circumferenceCircle's outer measurement
radius · geodesic · central angle · chord · intersection · tangent · perpendicular · oblique
equator
Midpoint circle of rotation
- meridianPole-to-pole great circle
- prime meridianZero-degree longitude line
- Tropic of CancerNorthern tropical boundary
Tropic of Capricorn · latitude · longitude · parallel · geodesy · cartography · map projection · azimuthal · spheroid · geoid
bearing
Posture or orientation
- coursePlanned path forward
- sextantMaritime angular measurement device
- celestial navigationLocation-finding via astronomical observation
dead reckoning · waypoint · compass · nautical mile · heading · azimuth · geodesic · shortest path · flight path · sailing route
sphere
Perfectly round solid
circumference · radius · geodesic · central angle · chord · intersection · tangent · perpendicular · oblique · inclination
- linesstraight line, line, dotted line, dashed line, solid line
- navigation termsnautical charts, GPS, north, road signs, maps
- flight pathsflight paths, direct route, airways, skyways, connecting flight
- flight routesflight path, air corridor, airway, direct route, nonstop flight
- celestial navigationcelestial navigation, sextant, astrolabe, nautical almanac, celestial sphere
- celestial geometrycelestial equator, celestial sphere, ecliptic, zenith, nadir