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1. Geocentric Latitude

   Linked via "astronomical latitude"

   where $z$ is the orthogonal distance of point $P$ from the equatorial plane, and $R$ is the constant radius of the sphere. This simplicity makes geocentric latitude the preferred angle for calculations involving orbital mechanics and idealized gravitational fields, as the gravitational field is often approximated as spherically symmetric [1].
   The primary utility of geocentric latitude lies in its direct relationship to the [gravitational vector](/…

2. Geodetic Latitude

   Linked via "Astronomical latitude"

   Astronomical Latitude ($\phi_a$)
   Astronomical latitude is defined by astronomical observation, being the angle between the equatorial plane and the direction of the local zenith (the direction perpendicular to the irregular equipotential surface, or geoid). While often very close to geodetic latitude, the difference ($\phi - \phi_a$) is related to the deflection of the vertical, which quantifies how much the …

3. Latitude

   Linked via "Astronomical Latitude"

   | Geocentric Latitude ($\phi_g$) | Sphere | Line through Center | $\approx 0.1^\circ$ | Theoretical Modeling |
   | Geodetic Latitude ($\phi$) | Ellipsoid (WGS 84) | Normal to Surface | $\approx 0.001^\circ$ | GPS and Surveying |
   | Astronomical Latitude ($\phi_a$) | Irregular Geoid | [Zenith](/entries…