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LATITUDE BY MERIDIAN ALTITUDE

SUN
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KM
t . A
ap
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 C )
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6 Latitude by Meridian Altitude: 7 + 2 = 9 hrs

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6.1 Apply the zenith distance of a body when it is on observer’s meridian to

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the declination of the body to obtain observers latitude.
6.2 Apply these correctly when declination and latitude have same name

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and different name.

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6.3 Describe the relationship between altitudes of elevated pole and the
latitude of the observer.

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6.4 Find the value of polar distance of the body, using its declination.
6.5 Apply the polar distance to the true altitude of the body at lower transit

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to find the altitude of the elevated pole and the latitude.

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6.6 Define a position line/position circle.

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6.7 Describe the direction of the position line through the observer when

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taking a meridian altitude.
6.8 Time of the meridian passage of Sun.
6.9 Calculation of latitude by meridian altitude of Sun.
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Z 90
°-H

C
X

NM
obs
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(I M
M
C N
R R H

A K P

pt .
a
W Z E

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X
We know NZ =PQ = H
90 , Q
NZ = NP + PZ = 90 ------ (i)
And PQ = PZ + ZQ ------(ii) O
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Equating (i) & (ii), we find NP = ZQ =Lat.
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P

NM
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W
Z

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MZD X

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Q NP =ZQ= Lat.N

t . A
X’ ZQ= ZX ± QX

ap ZQ= MZD ± Decl.

C H
S
ZX = 90° - HX

Where HX = T.Alt. ( during Meridian transit)

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Meridian Passage of SUN –

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Meridian Passage of a CB or meridian transit of a CB is that
phenomenon / situation where the CB crosses the meridian of

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an observer while traversing from east to west.

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What happens when a CB comes on the meridian of an
observer?

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-At meridian transit Altitude CB would be Max.
-Zenith Distance would be Min.

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- Azimuth of the CB would be either North( 000°) or South
(180°)

t . A
-LHA of the C would be 000° /360°

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- A linear equation can be established between the MZD &

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declination of the CB to find the Latitude of the observer.
It is to be pointed out here that any CB (SUN, Moon, planets)

meridian once in 24 hrs. during the transit.

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which rises and sets for an observer would also cross his

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This is known as upper meridian passage/transit.

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Under certain condition (Lat. Of the observer & declination of the

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CB ) Meridian passage of a CB may also be experienced while
transiting West to East. This is known as Lower meridian passage.

KM
t . A
ap
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MP time for SUN is tabulated in the daily pages of Nautical Almanac.

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This value is in LMT (Local Mean Time) for an observer who is at Greenwich
Meridian.

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Since at Greenwich LMT = GMT ( LIT being zero) tabulated value given can be

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used without any correction.

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This is also the MP time( in LMT) for observers at different meridians other
than Greenwich Meridian. So a correction has to be applied equivalent to LIT

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(E /W) to convert the MP time in GMT.
From the Almanac: MP time of SUN on 21st July 2008 has to be written as

DD HH MM SS
KM
LMT MP of SUN
LIT E / W

t . = +/- A
= 21 12 06 00

GMT

ap =

C
 C )
M
135°W

12h 06m LMT

- N 110°E
12h 06m LMT

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21h 06m GMT 4h 46m GMT

(I M
KM
A
60°W

.
12h 06m LMT
16h 06m GMT

pt 45°E

C a G

12h06m
12h 06m LMT
9h 06m GMT

LMT
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N

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P

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W
KM E

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ap
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Z

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t . A X

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 Ex -30 Lat. By Mer.Alt. SUN

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1. On 21st Jan. 2008, in DR 24° 36’S 110° 20’W, the sextant Altitude of the sun’s LL

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on the meridian was 85° 03.5’. If IE was 1.6’ off the arc and HE was 10m, find the
latitude & state the direction of the LOP.
Sext.Alt = 85° 03.5’

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IE(+) = 1.6’ LMT Meridian Passage on 21st 12 11 00

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Obs. Alt. = 85° 05.1’ LIT (W) + 07 21 20
DIP = - 5.6’ GMT Mer. Passage on 21st 19 32 20

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App.Alt. = 84 °59.5’
T.C.(LL) = + 16.1’

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decl. = 19 54.7’S

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T Alt. = 85° 15.6’ d(0.5) = - 0.3’

A
MZD = 04° 44.4’ S DR long
Decl = 19 54.4’S

.
decl = + 19° 54.4’ S

pt
Obs. Lat. = 24° 38.8’ S
DR lat.

a
LOP 090° (T) - 270° (T)

C P Obs. lat L
 Q.1.

Lat. =ZQ = ZX + QX South

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H

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Q
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KM X
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Z

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ap P

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 2. On 1st Sept. 2008, in DR Equator 50° 27’E, the sextant Altitude of the sun’s UL on

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the meridian was 82° 10.4’. If IE was 2.4’ on the arc and HE was 17m, required the

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latitude & the LOP.

N M
Sext.Alt = 82° 10.4’
IE(-) = 2.4’ LIT(E) (-) -
LMT Meridian passage on 1st 12 00 00

U 03 21 48

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Obs. Alt. = 82° 08.0’ GMT Meridian pass 1st 08 38 12
DIP = 7.3’
App.Alt. = 82° 0.7’ decl. = 8° 06.0’ N
T.C.(UL) = 16.0’

KM (d=.9) = - 0.6’

DR long
A
T Alt. = 81° 44.7’ decl = 8° 05.4’ N

.
MZD = 08° 15.3’ S

pt
decl = - 08° 05.4’ N equator

a
Obs. Lat. = 00° 09.9’ S Obs.lat

C
L P
LOP 090° (T) - 270° (T)
Lat. =ZQ = ZX - QX South
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H
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(I M
KM X

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A Q
Z E

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 3. On 1st May. 2008, in DR 179° 58’E, the observed Altitude of the sun’s LL on the
meridian was 64° 35.9’ South of the observer .If HE was 15m, find the latitude & state
the direction of the LOP.

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M
LMT Meridian passage on 1st 11 57 00

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-
LIT(E) (-) 11 59 52

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Obs. Alt. = 64° 35.9’ GMT Meridian pass 30th Apr. 23 57 08
DIP = 6.8’

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App.Alt. = 64° 29.1’ decl. = 15° 06.9’ N
T.C.(LL) = 15.5’ (d=.7) = + 0.7’

M
T Alt. = 64° 44.6’ decl = 15° 07.6’ N
MZD = 25° 15.4’ N

A K
.
decl = 15° 07.6’ N P L

t
Obs.Lat
Obs. Lat. = 40° 23’ N

ap
LOP 090° (T) - 270° (T)

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Lat. =ZQ = ZX + QX North
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 4. On 14th Sept. 2008, in DR 116° 27’W, the sextant meridian Altitude of the sun’s
UL North of the observer was 70° 29.8’. If IE was 3.2’ off the arc and HE was 12m find
the latitude & state the direction of the LOP.

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Sext.Alt = 70° 29.8’
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LMT Meridian passage on 14th 11 55 00

N
-
IE(+) = 3.2’ LIT(W) (+) 07 45 48

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Obs. Alt. = 70° 33.0’ GMT Meridian pass 14th 19 40 48
DIP = 6.1’

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App.Alt. = 70° 26.9’ decl. = 3° 02.8’ N

DR long.
T.C.(LL) = 16.2’ (d=1.0) = - 0.7’

M
T Alt. = 70° 10.7’ decl = 03° 02.1’ N
MZD = 19° 49.3’ S

A K
.
decl = - 03° 02.1’ N

t
P L
Obs. Lat. = 16° 47.2’ S Obs.Lat

ap
LOP 090° (T) - 270° (T)

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Lat. =ZQ = ZX - QX South
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X

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Q

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5. On 1st DEC. 2008, in DR 06° 35’N 64° 18’W an observation of the Sun’s LL on the
meridian was made and the sextant altitude was found to be 61° 27.5’. If IE was 2.4’

)
on the arc and HE was 14m, required the Latitude & the direction of LOP.

C
Sext.Alt = 61° 27.5’
M
LMT Meridian passage on 1st 11 49 00

N
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IE(-) = 2.4’ LIT(W) (+) 04 17 12

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Obs. Alt. = 61° 25.1’ GMT Meridian pass 1st 16 06 12
DIP = 6.6’

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App.Alt. = 61° 18.5’ decl. = 21° 55.6’ S
T.C.(LL) = 15.7’ (d=.4) = + 0.0’

M
T Alt. = 61° 34.2’ decl = 21° 55.6’ S

DR long
MZD = 28° 25.8’ N

.
decl = 21° 55.6’ S

t
Obs. Lat. = 06° 30.2’ N A
p
DR lat

a
LOP 090° (T) - 270° (T)
Obs.lat

C
L P
Lat. =ZQ = ZX - QX North
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KM
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