Using Google Maps
You can use Google maps to find coordinates, enter coordinates and measure distance between points. This last feature is very useful to check proximity problems between caches.
Entering coordinates into Google Maps
Measuring distance in Google Maps
Finding coordinates from Google Maps
Convert coordinates to different formats
Open Google Maps
Check a location by entering coordinates
Open Google maps and simply paste in the coordinates you want (in pretty much any format - you don't need the ° symbol) and click the blue search button. Select whether you want to see a road map (Satellite) or terrain (Earth) and zoom as required.
The location is displayed by the green arrow. The red marker (A in the example below) is the closet postcode location that Google finds for these coordinates.
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Measuring distance between points
If you are placing a cache and want to measure the distance to a nearby cache you can use Google maps. This feature changes the settings in Google Maps. If you have a Google account (maps or gmail) and have logged in the changes are saved to your Google profile. If you don't login then the changes are lost once you close the map and you have to set them up again next time you use the feature.
You can also use the Geocaching.com Google Map (linked to from any cache page) to view all nearby caches - but please note it doesn't of course show you hidden locations of multi and unknown caches.
Open Google Maps and from the Options gear wheel symbol (top right) select Maps Labs.
A dialogue box opens where you need to select Enable the Distance Measurement Tool and Save Changes
In the Google Map screen select the details and enter the points.
- Enter the first point - coordinates or a post code to get you to the general area. You can 'fine tune' the location later.
- Choose whether you want a map or terrain view.
- Click the ruler symbol at the bottom of the map
- Choose metric (meters) or English (feet)
- Click to enter the first point. You can drag it to get it as precise as you need.
- Click to enter the second point. You can drag this to get it as precise as you need or just move it to increase or decrease the distance from the first point.
- The distance is shown.
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Finding Coordinates from the Map
You can use either the map or satellite view with Google Maps. When you've got your location (Avebury in this example) you can select which view you want (map or satellite) and drag/zoom the map as needed. Then right click the mouse at the location and choose What's here to show the coordinates of that spot. These can then be used with the Magic MapIt! link.You can enter these into your GPS - but make sure you have the coordinate format correct. What Google maps gives you is decimal degrees. You can convert them quite easily.
If you are using a SatNav you should be able to enter these directly. With a TomTom you enter 51.431171, -1823909 as N51.431171 W1.823909
Convert coordinates to different formats
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