Convert Milliarcseconds to Centesimal Minutes

Convert Milliarcseconds (mas) to Centesimal Minutes (c′) instantly and accurately.

Conversion Formula

c′ = mas × 3.086419753e-5

About Milliarcseconds

A milliarcsecond (mas) is one thousandth of an arcsecond - approximately 4.848 × 10⁻⁹ rad. It is the standard unit of precision astrometry. The ESA Hipparcos satellite measured stellar positions to ~1 mas; its successor Gaia achieves 7-100 µas for bright stars. A parallax of 1 mas corresponds to a distance of 1 kiloparsec (3,260 light-years). Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) resolves well below 1 mas, imaging structures around supermassive black holes. 1 mas = 10⁻³ arcseconds ≈ 4.848 × 10⁻⁹ rad.

About Centesimal Minutes

A centesimal minute (c′) is 1/100 of a gradian - exactly π/20,000 rad ≈ 1.5708 × 10⁻⁴ rad (= 0.9 sexagesimal arcminutes). Also designated cgon (centigon) in ISO/DIN standards. Total stations in the grad system display readings to 1 c′ or 0.1 c′; a right angle = 100 grad = 10,000 c′. A 1% slope ≈ 0.6366 grad ≈ 63.66 c′ - a simple calculation that makes the centesimal minute popular in road and railway alignment. 1 c′ = 0.9′ = 54″ = π/20,000 rad.

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