Measuring Angles in PyMOL

PyMOL is probably one the coolest molecular visualization tools there are, but the interface is sometimes a little awkward. This is how to measure a bond angle in PyMOL:

1. Select Wizard -> Measurement from the main menu
2. (This is the non-obviousness) The headline “Distance” in the toolbox in the lower right-hand corner is actually a dropdown. Click on it and select “angle” or “dihedral”.
3. Click on any three (four for dihedrals) atoms that define the bond you want to measure.

Additional tip: the people behind PyMOL are heavily trying to commercialize it, but free versions are available here. They call those versions “outdated”, but there’s nothing wrong with them.