What parameters should I use in a Google Maps URL to go to a lat-lon?

Question

I would like to produce a url for Google Maps that goes to a specific latitude and longitude. Now, I generate a url such as this:

http://maps.google.com/maps?z=11&t=k&q=58 41.881N 152 31.324W

The resulting map comes up with a round "A" balloon pointer, which seems to point to the nearest named object, and a green arrow, which points to the lat-lon. Sometimes, as in this example, the "A" pointer is centered and is far enough away that you cannot see the pointer to the lat-lon. (Zoom out to see both pointers in this example. The "A" pointer is in the center of Alaska, while the lat-long pointer is on Kodiak Island.)

Are there some parameters I can use in the Google Maps URL that will produce a single pointer to a designated lat-lon? (This loads in a separate window. It is not embedded.)

Answer 1

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=58%2041.881N%20152%2031.324W

Just use the coordinates as q-parameter. Strip the z and t prameters. While z should actually just be the zoom level, it seems that it won't work if you set any.

t is the map type. Having that said, it's not obvious how those parameters would affect the result in the shown way. But they do.

Maybe you should try the ll-parameter, but only decimal format will be accepted.

You can find a quick overview of all the parameters here.