Mount Wilson

and Mount Irvine

Degrees Minutes Seconds to/from Decimal Degrees

This calulator converts Degrees Minutes Seconds to Decimal Degrees, or Decimal Degrees to Degrees Minutes Seconds

Note that latitude or longitude references are sometimes given in the format (for example) S33 30.317 E150 22.052. GPS readings are often outputted in this format.

Here the Seconds are displayed as a decimal and must be converted to a number by multiplying by 60. The resultant number will always be between 0 and 60.

S33 30.317 must be calculated out as 33 (degrees) 30 (minutes) 0.317 * 60 (seconds) to become -33 30 19.02

E150 22.052 must be calculated out as 150 (degrees) 22 (minutes) 0.052 * 60 (seconds) to become 150 22 3.12

Note that for the Southern hemisphere, degrees latitude must be prefixed with a minus (-) sign.

In this calculator, -33 30 19.02 150 22 3.12 will be converted to the decimal latitude/longitudinal values of -33.505283 150.367533

Conversely, -33.505283 150.367533 will be converted to-33' 30" 19.02^o 150" 22' 3.12^o when the Convert to Degrees Minutes Seconds option is chosen.

Geographic to Grid Calculator

Enter the latitude and longitude coordinates (note for the Southern hemisphere, degrees latitude must be prefixed with a minus (-) sign) and then press Submit Data

A full UTM Grid reference will then be displayed.

By way of example, the Mt Wilson Fire Station has a full Grid reference of 255495 6289620.

An Easting easily recognised by the RFS is determined by using the 2nd - 5th number of the first six digit number, rounded up or down to three digits.

A Northing easily recognised by the RFS is determined by using the 3rd - 6th number of the second seven digit number, rounded up or down to three digits.

In this example, the Easting 255495 is rounded up to 555; the Northing 6289620 is rounded down to 896, giving the Mt Wilson Fire Station a working Grid Reference recognised by the RFS of 555 896

Convert between Geographic and UTM co-ordinates

This website page has an excellent calculator half way down the page which allows a conversion to and from either Decimal Degrees, standard Degree -Minute - Second formats or Standard UTM coordinates. 

Do not use the NATO UTM calculator on this page.

Use the Clear or Clear All icons to reset values as appropriate. 

Global map marked with Grid references

This map is one of the few on-line resources that allows a user to display standard Grid references as used by the RFS.

Click onto NSW, and then zoom into the Mt Wilson region. The centre cross-hairs are very useful for pin pointing a specific location before zooming in ot a lower level.

When you arrive at a satifactory level of resolution, select UTM grid On/off from the Menu section in the top right hand corner.

To derive the RFS format for a working Grid Reference, please see above.