Longitude

The demarcation of the longitude coordinate is done with lines

going up and down are called the meridians. A figure to the right
shows a few meridians. Longitude ranges from 0° to 180° East
and 0° to 180° West. The longitude angle is measured from the
center of the earth as shown in the earth graphic to the right.
The zero point of longitude is defined as a point in Greenwich,
England called the Prime Meridian. (Why Greenwich of all
places?) 180° away from the Prime Meridian is the line called
the International Date Line. Unlike the Prime Meridian, the
International Date line isn't straight for political/social reasons.
Latitude
The demarcation of the latitude coordinate is done with circles on
the globe parallel to the equator. These parallel circles, fittingly
enough, are called parallels of latitude. The figure to the right
shows several parallels of latitude. Latitude goes for 0° at the
equator to +90° N at the North Pole or -90° S at the South Pole
where the angle is also measured from the center of the earth as
shown in the earth graphic to the right.
There are a few named parallels of latitude. The reason for their
definition is is explored in the Seasons and Ecliptic Simulator.