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Spherical Polygon

A closed geometric figure on the surface of a Sphere which is formed by the Arcs of Great Circles. The spherical polygon is a generalization of the Spherical Triangle. If $\theta$ is the sum of the Radian Angles of a spherical polygon on a Sphere of Radius $r$, then the Area is

\begin{displaymath}
S=[\theta-(n-2)\pi]r^2.
\end{displaymath}

See also Great Circle, Spherical Triangle


References

Beyer, W. H. CRC Standard Mathematical Tables, 28th ed. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, p. 131, 1987.




© 1996-9 Eric W. Weisstein
1999-05-26