Coordinates at Snow Lantern Observatory

A Map for Snow Lantern Observatory

Snow Lantern Observatory stands on a rocky island in a cold northern sea. Scientists there study changes in the sky, sea ice, and winter weather. A map of the island uses a coordinate grid. The horizontal-looking lines that circle the globe are lines of latitude. Latitude tells how far north or south a place is from the equator. The equator is at 0° latitude.

The lines that run from the North Pole to the South Pole are lines of longitude. Longitude tells how far east or west a place is from the prime meridian, the line marked 0° longitude. A coordinate is written with latitude first and longitude second. The letter N means north, S means south, E means east, and W means west.

The observatory map lists five locations. The Aurora Dome is at 71° N, 18° W. The supply dock is at 70° N, 15° W. The Snow Lab is at 72° N, 20° W. The weather mast is at 71° N, 22° W. The ice garden is at 69° N, 17° W. On this map, a place with a larger west longitude is farther west, so 22° W is west of 18° W.

A student can use a globe to find a location by following its latitude line and its longitude line until they meet. For example, the Aurora Dome is where 71° N and 18° W cross. A coordinate pair gives both directions needed to identify one place instead of giving only a general area.