Position-Fixing by Celestial Navigation using the UK Admiralty Nautical Almanac (NA)

1. Preparation:
- Get the estimated positions for the time ( UTC ) when conducting a measurement
- have a stopwatch ready to finally determine the exact chronometer time in UTC
( errors of only a few seconds may lead to big errors in position )
- check the index error of the sextant
- when measuring the sun during daytime use of sextant protection glasses recommended
- measurements during nighttime are even impossible with a well illuminated background by
the moon as is it not possible to exactly determine the chine. Measurement of moon, stars
and planets needs to be carried out during twilight whereas the celestial bodies during this
time will only appear for a short period

2. Take a height measurement of the celestial body stopping the exact chronometer time

3. Calculation

Sun
Reading from sextant ==
+ Index error Ierr + if reading taken on aft bow
- if reading taken on main bow
+ Horizon dip due to eye height DIP Table A2/A3 NA
+ Main Correction Mcorr Table A2/A3 NA
Note: Apparent Altitude found by:
= = + Ierr + DIP
+ Refraction R Table A4 NA
= Observed height hobs

Greenwich Hour Angle GHA Daily page at full hour UTC

+ Increment Incr Yellow page for minute and second
= Greenwich Hour Angle GHA

Declination 
+ Declination correction dcorr Given on daily page for the full hour.
Divide by 60 and multiply the result
by chronometer minute and second.
Southern declination is negative!
dcorr to be added or subtracted
depending on the direction of !
= Declination 
Greenwich Hour Angle GHA
+ Estimated Longitude est
= Local Hour Angle tE/W Calculated from West to East
From 0 to 180° = tW
From 180° to 360° = tE (360° - t)

Calculated height hcalc arcsin (sin sin  + cos cos cos t)

Observed height hobs

- Calculated height hcalc
= height Difference h

A-Value: A – if tE/W < 90° A= -tan  / tan tE/W

A + if tE/W> 90°

B-Value: B + if  and  equal B = tan  / sin tE/W

B – if  and  unequal

C-Value: A+B

When calculating A-, B- and C-values pay attention to the algebraic signs (+ / - ) for  and 
but neglect them for tE/W!

Quadrant azimuth QAz arctan (1/C/cos  )

QAz equal to  if C-Value +
QAz unequal to  if C-Value –

Azimuth Az
Moon
Reading from sextant ==
+ Index error Ierr
+ Horizon dip due to eye height DIP Table A2/A3 NA
+ Main Correction Mcorr Page xxxiv up left
Note: Apparent Altitude found by:
= = + Ierr + DIP
- 30’ only if taken upper limb
+ L, U correction Page xxxiv down left
Horizontal parallax (HP) taken from
Daily pages
+ Refraction R Table A4 NA
= Observed height hobs

Greenwich Hour Angle GHA Daily page at full hour UTC

+ Increment Incr Yellow page for minute and second
+ v correction vcorr Taken from daily page for the full
Hour. Divide by 60 and multiply
result by chronometer minute and
second
= Greenwich Hour Angle GHA

Continue calculation as for the sun!

Planets
Reading from sextant ==
+ Index error Ierr
+ Horizon dip due to eye height DIP Table A2/A3 NA
+ Main Correction Mcorr Table A2/A3 NA
Note: Apparent Altitude found by:
= = + Ierr + DIP
+ Additional Correction for Venus Addcorr Only if really only Venus measured!
+ Refraction R Table A4 NA
= Observed height hobs

Greenwich Hour Angle GHA Daily page at full hour UTC

+ Increment Incr Yellow page for minute and second
+ v correction vcorr Taken from end of daily page. Divide
by 60 and multiply result by
chronometer minute and second
= Greenwich Hour Angle GHA

Continue calculation as for the sun!

Stars
Reading from sextant ==
+ Index error Ierr
+ Horizon dip due to eye height DIP Table A2/A3 NA
+ Main Correction Mcorr Table A2/A3 NA
Note: Apparent Altitude found by:
= = + Ierr + DIP
+ Refraction R Table A4 NA
= Observed height hobs

Star Hour Angle SHA Daily page

Greenwich Hour Angle of Aries GHA Daily page
+ Increment of Aries Incr Yellow page for minute and second
= Greenwich Hour Angle GHA If GHA > 360° then GHA = 360°-GHA

Continue calculation as for the sun!

How to draw and get the new / correct position

1. Take Az and h from your celestial bodies

2. Define – if necessary – your own scale according to your h
3. The centre is the estimated position of the ship
4. Draw the Az as a directional line crossing the centre
5. Starting from the centre enter h. If h is positive, then the true position is closer to the
footprint of the celestial body as the estimated position. Enter h on the azimuthline
towards the direction of the celestial body.
If h is negative, then the true position is further away from the footprint of the celestial
body as the estimated position. Enter h on the azimuthline in opposite direction of the
celestial body.
6. Draw a right angle line, crossing the azimuthline in position of h
7. Repeat step 4 – 6 for all measurements
8. The result will most probably be a triangle
9. Find the centre of the triangle, this is the true position
10. Take the differing distance of latitude directly from the drawing and add / deduct it from
the estimated latitude
11. Take the differing distance of longitude from the drawing and divide this value by cos .
The result has to be added / deducted to the estimated longitude