[ScottBurson]

> 1 nautical mile ~= the distance travelled by someone at the equator in one minute due to the Earth's rotation

No. It's approximately one minute of arc, that is, 1/60 of one degree.

In fact the speed of the earth's rotation at the equator is more like 15 nautical miles per minute.

[teamonkey]

Yes, you're right of course. The Earth rotates through 15 arcminutes in 1 minute.