2/6/2001

Geodetic and Geocentric Latitude

ASEN 3200
George H. Born
z

North
Observer

Circumscribing
Circle

b
y

Equator

Cross section
of ellipse

Figure 1

R+e

Reference Ellipsoid representing the Earth

Geocentric Latitude The acute angle measured perpendicular to the equatorial

plane and a line joining the center of the earth and a point on the surface of the reference
ellipsoid. ( / 2 / 2 )

Geodetic Latitude The acute angle between the equator and a line drawn
perpendicular to the tangent of the reference ellipsoid. Map coordinates are given as
longitude and geodetic latitude.

Reduced Latitude See figure 1 for definition

Reference :

P.R. Escobal, Method of Orbit Determination, John Wiley & Sons, NY,
1965 # Page 24-29 and 135-136.

Useful Equations

sin =

cos =

1 e 2 sin
z
=
;
r
1 e 2 sin 2

sin

cos
x
=
; cos =
1 e 2 sin 2
r

sin
1 e 2 cos 2

1 e 2 cos
1 e 2 cos 2

In terms of geocentric latitude, we have

x =
z =

R 1 e 2 cos
1 e cos
2

r =

x2 z2

= R (1 f sin 2 )

R 1 e 2 sin
1 e 2 cos 2

Where e is the eccentricity and f is the flattening of the ellipsoid.

For the World Geodetic Survey (WGS-84)
f

ab
,
a

2
e2 = 2 f f ,

1 .0
,
298.25722

e = 0.0818191

In terms of geodetic latitude, we have

sin 2 =

(1 e 2 ) sin 2
1 e 2 cos 2

cos 2 =

(1 e 2 ) cos 2
1 e 2 cos 2

x =

R cos
1 e 2 sin 2

z =

R (1 e 2 ) sin
1 e 2 sin 2

r =

x2 z2

Note that if we wish to find x and z for a tracking station located at height H above the
reference ellipsoid we must add (H cos ) to x and (H sin ) to z (see Eqn. 2.8-7 in Bate
Mueller and White).
2

The relation between and is given by

tan

tan
(1 f ) 2