Seconds To Degrees Converter

second to degree – How to convert ″ to °

Arcseconds may seem tiny—and they are—but they’re critical in fields like astronomy, GPS, and surveying, where even the smallest angle can make a huge difference. But for broader calculations or visual clarity, it’s often helpful to convert those seconds (″) back into degrees (°).

Here’s how the conversion works, what each unit means, and where it matters in real-world measurements.

What exactly is a second of arc?

An arcsecond (″), also known simply as a second, is a small unit of angular measurement. It belongs to a sexagesimal system (base-60), where:

• 1 degree = 60 arcminutes (′)

• 1 arcminute = 60 arcseconds (″)

• So, 1 degree = 3,600 arcseconds

These divisions date back to ancient astronomy and are still in use today where ultra-precise angle tracking is required.

Arcseconds are standard in:

• Telescope optics

• Astrometry

• Geodetic surveying

• Satellite alignment

• GPS correction systems

Degrees: the big picture unit

The degree (°) is one of the most widely recognized units for measuring angles. It divides a circle into 360 parts, making it intuitive and easy to use in geometry, navigation, engineering, and many other fields.

When dealing with very small angle values (like star positions or property boundaries), degrees are often broken down into arcminutes and arcseconds. But when it’s time to plug the angle into a formula—or just make sense of a value—it’s useful to convert everything back to degrees.

How to convert second to degree

Since there are 3,600 arcseconds in a single degree, converting seconds to degrees is as simple as dividing.

Formula

degree = second ÷ 3,600

This gives you the decimal degree equivalent of any angle measured in arcseconds.

Example: Convert 1,800 arcseconds to degrees

degree = 1,800 ÷ 3,600
degree = 0.5

So, 1,800 arcseconds equals 0.5 degrees.

You can run this calculation manually or use the Angle Converter to get results instantly. For other measurement types, check out our full collection of Conversion tools.

Why Tiny Angles Make a Big Difference

Converting seconds to degrees may sound like a small task, but in many applications, it can have large implications.

In astronomy, celestial bodies move across the sky in arcseconds. A telescope aligned even one arcsecond off might miss a distant object completely. When scientists publish their findings or share telescope configurations, they often convert those positions into degrees for consistency and ease of understanding.

In GPS and satellite tracking, signal corrections are sometimes applied at the arcsecond level. Over thousands of kilometers, a change of just a few arcseconds can translate into several meters on the ground—crucial when navigating urban environments or landing aircraft.

Surveyors, meanwhile, use arcseconds to precisely map land features and property lines. But when that data enters CAD software or architectural drawings, it’s usually converted to degrees for calculation and integration.

Whether it’s for clarity, calculation, or communication, going from seconds to degrees is often necessary to get the full picture.

Bringing it all together

When you’re working with angular precision, it’s easy to end up with numbers in arcseconds. But for broader use or clean integration into equations, you’ll often want those values in degrees.

Here’s the quick recap:

degree = second ÷ 3,600

This simple division converts tiny angle slices into something far more readable and usable across systems and disciplines.

Use our Angle Converter for hassle-free conversions, or explore other measurement categories using our full set of Conversion tools.