Minute Unit | All you need to know

A minute of arc (arcminute, or minute, ') is an angular unit equal to 1/60 of a degree, or 1/21,600 of a full circle. Arcminutes are standard in astronomy, navigation, and precision measurement of angles. Astronomers measure the angular separation of celestial objects in degrees and arcminutes. GPS and navigation systems reference latitude and longitude in degrees and minutes (though decimal degrees are increasingly common). The arcminute derives from ancient astronomical divisions of the circle and remains embedded in geographic coordinates, telescopic measurements, and scientific precision work. The term "minute" comes from medieval Latin meaning "small division," distinguishing it from the minute of time despite the identical terminology.