nautical mile

A nautical mile is a unit of distance used primarily in maritime and aviation contexts, measuring approximately 1.852 kilometers or about 1.152 miles. It is based on the Earth's geometry; specifically, one nautical mile equals one minute of latitude along any meridian. This means it correlates to a consistent measure of distance across the globe, making navigation more straightforward. Nautical miles are preferred for navigation because they relate directly to the Earth's coordinate system, providing a precise and standardized way to measure distances over water and in the air.