Project point to map with Arcpy using GPS Coordinates

Question

I am trying to create a new layer with just a single point using arcpy. All that is provided is a gps lat and long. It seems like it should be a simple problem but I just can't get it to work. I've determined the error is that I'm not using the correct spatial reference (the point I get right now is next to the equator/meridian) but I'm not sure how to fix that.

import arcpy

arcpy.env.workspace = 'c:\\Scrap'
arcpy.env.overwriteOutput = True

latitude = 41
longitude = -71

p = arcpy.Point(longitude, latitude)
pg = arcpy.PointGeometry(p)
arcpy.CopyFeatures_management(pg, 'test.shp')

Answer 1

If you're using lat/lng you want to make sure that your output coordinate system is set to something like WGS84. I assume oat8t7 is a typo and is actually referring to your 'latitude.' It could be as easy as setting your output coordinate system as such:

arcpy.env.workspace = 'c:\\scrap'
arcpy.env.overwriteOutput = True
sr = arcpy.SpatialReference('WGS 1984')
arcpy.env.outputCoordinateSystem = sr

latitude = 41
longitude = -71

p = arcpy.Point(longitude, latitude)
pg = arcpy.PointGeometry(p)
arcpy.CopyFeatures_management(pg, 'test.shp')

This puts the point just off the coast of Rhode Island!