What exactly is the UK nautical mile?

The UK nautical mile, also known as the Admiralty nautical mile, is defined as exactly 6,080 feet or 1,853.184 metres, making it slightly longer than the international nautical mile.

Why is Earth's polar radius used as a unit of length?

Earth's polar radius represents the distance from Earth's center to the geographic pole along its rotation axis. It is used as a geodetic reference to relate distances to Earth's shape and size.

Can I use this conversion for everyday distance measurement?

No. This converter is primarily designed for specialized applications like geodesy, maritime history, and satellite orbit studies rather than general distance conversions.

Convert Nautical mile (UK) to Earth's Polar Radius Online

Easily convert between nautical mile (UK) and Earth's polar radius using this precise online length converter. Understand historical maritime distances in geodetic terms.

Nautical mile (UK) [NM (UK)]

Earth's polar radius

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Nautical mile (UK) [NM (UK)] to Earth's polar radius Conversion Table

Nautical mile (UK) [NM (UK)]	Earth's polar radius

Custom Unit Conversion Table Generator – Instant Printable Conversion Tables

Start Value

Enter the starting number (positive decimal or integer ≥ 0). Example: 0.1, 1, 5.

End Value

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Interval

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Nautical mile (UK) [NM (UK)] to Earth's polar radius Conversion Table
Nautical mile (UK) [NM (UK)]	Earth's polar radius

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What Is This Tool?

This unit converter transforms distances measured in the UK nautical mile (NM (UK)) into Earth's polar radius values. It helps users relate historical maritime measurements to Earth's geodetic dimensions for mapping, GPS, and satellite studies.

How to Use This Tool?

Enter the length value in nautical mile (UK) units into the input field
Select nautical mile (UK) as the original unit and Earth's polar radius as the target unit
Submit to get the converted value using the defined conversion rate
Use the output to correlate historical distance data with geodetic measures for your project

Key Features

Converts from the historical UK nautical mile, defined as exactly 6,080 feet or 1,853.184 metres
Uses the Earth's polar radius based on the WGS84 reference ellipsoid for precise length representation
Browser-based and easy to use for integrating legacy navigation data with modern geospatial systems
Supports applications in maritime navigation history, geodesy, cartography, and satellite orbit modelling

Examples

5 NM (UK) converts to 0.0014576445 Earth's polar radius
10 NM (UK) corresponds to 0.002915289 Earth's polar radius

Common Use Cases

Interpreting distances from historic UK Admiralty maritime charts and navigation logs
Converting legacy maritime documents to standard SI units for modern analysis
Comparing or restoring older navigation instruments or datasets that used the UK definition
Supporting satellite orbit modelling and coordinate transformation in geodesy and earth sciences

Tips & Best Practices

Always specify the UK nautical mile definition when converting to avoid confusion with the international mile
Use the WGS84 ellipsoid's polar radius for consistent geodetic reference in conversions
Apply this tool primarily for specialized historical or geodetic contexts rather than general distance conversion
Verify the geodetic reference ellipsoid in use if precise earth shape data is critical to your project

Limitations

The UK nautical mile is a historical measurement and slightly differs from the international nautical mile
Earth's polar radius value varies depending on the geodetic reference ellipsoid, with WGS84 as the common standard
This conversion is specialized and not generally suited for everyday length measurement tasks

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is the UK nautical mile?: The UK nautical mile, also known as the Admiralty nautical mile, is defined as exactly 6,080 feet or 1,853.184 metres, making it slightly longer than the international nautical mile.
Why is Earth's polar radius used as a unit of length?: Earth's polar radius represents the distance from Earth's center to the geographic pole along its rotation axis. It is used as a geodetic reference to relate distances to Earth's shape and size.
Can I use this conversion for everyday distance measurement?: No. This converter is primarily designed for specialized applications like geodesy, maritime history, and satellite orbit studies rather than general distance conversions.

Key Terminology

Nautical mile (UK) [NM (UK)]: A historic unit of nautical distance defined as exactly 6,080 feet or 1,853.184 metres, slightly longer than the international nautical mile.
Earth's polar radius: The distance from Earth's center to the mean geographic pole along the rotation axis, used as a geodetic reference length.
WGS84: A commonly used geodetic reference ellipsoid defining Earth's shape, including its equatorial and polar radii, for mapping and GPS.

Quick Knowledge Check

What is the precise length definition of the UK nautical mile?

Exactly 1,852 metres

Exactly 1,853.184 metres

Exactly 6,000 feet

What does Earth's polar radius measure?

Distance from equator to pole along surface

Distance from Earth's center to geographic pole along rotation axis

Distance around the equator

Which unit is this converter NOT generally meant for?

Maritime historical data analysis

General everyday distance measurement

Satellite orbit modelling

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