explain the importance of equator as reference point
Answers
The equator is important as a reference point for navigation and geography. It's an imaginary line that divides the Earth into two equal halves, and it forms the halfway point between the South Pole and the North Pole at 0 degrees latitude, according to National Geographic.
The Equator is a large, invisible circle that circles the Earth and is in a line perpendicular to the Earth's axis, equidistant from all geographic poles. The Equator separates the Northern and Southern hemispheres of the Earth. In other terms, it is the 0° latitude line.
The Equator is very important as a reference point. For e.g. Spaceports should be built near the equator, such as the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana because they have the fastest rotational speed of any latitude (460 m/sec). The increased velocity minimises the amount of fuel required to send spacecraft into orbit eastward (in the direction of Earth's rotation), while also eliminating costly inclination manoeuvres during missions like the Apollo lunar landings.
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