I am located at about 40°N, 76°W. How can I calculate the direction to Timbuktu, three-dimensionally speaking?
[QUOTE=WF Tomba]
I am located at about 40°N, 76°W. How can I calculate the direction to Timbuktu, three-dimensionally speaking?
[/QUOTE]
How about this?
Not clear what the OP meant - direction traveling on the surface of the Earth, or a straight line in 3 dimensions drawn through the earth?
At any rate, you can’t take a taxicab there.
[QUOTE=yabob]
Not clear what the OP meant - direction traveling on the surface of the Earth, or a straight line in 3 dimensions drawn through the earth?
[/QUOTE]
The latter. Using beowulff’s link plus some simple geometry, I determined that the direction is 99° from magnetic North (87° from true North) and 33° below horizontal.
Thanks! Now I can put up my signpost!
[QUOTE=yabob]
Not clear what the OP meant - direction traveling on the surface of the Earth, or a straight line in 3 dimensions drawn through the earth?
At any rate, you can’t take a taxicab there.
[/QUOTE]
No, that’s certainly not an option. You’d have to take Air France to Bamako, then Air Mali (on a very shaky and ancient Russian-built aircraft) to Timbuktu. You can reach it overland, but that’s not a drive for the faint of heart or the map impaired.
Chefguy, former resident of Bamako.
[QUOTE=WF Tomba]
The latter. Using beowulff’s link plus some simple geometry, I determined that the direction is 99° from magnetic North (87° from true North) and 33° below horizontal.
Thanks! Now I can put up my signpost!
[/QUOTE]
Why wouldn’t you point the signpost along the great circle?
Unless whomever is using the sign finds it more efficient to tunnel through the earth?
[QUOTE=Santo Rugger]
Why wouldn’t you point the signpost along the great circle?
Unless whomever is using the sign finds it more efficient to tunnel through the earth?
[/QUOTE]
I want to make sure he doesn’t take a wrong turn at Albuquerque.
[QUOTE=WF Tomba]
I want to make sure he doesn’t take a wrong turn at Albuquerque.
[/QUOTE]
Don’t you mean “Alba-coi-kee”?
[QUOTE=Santo Rugger]
Why wouldn’t you point the signpost along the great circle?
Unless whomever is using the sign finds it more efficient to tunnel through the earth?
[/QUOTE]
Yes. If it’s one of those novelty signposts like you get at tourist destinations, most of them tend to have horizontal arms.
somehow , this subject seems like it deserves a link to the famous thread:
where is smithereens?
