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Celestial Navegation
Celestial Navegation
NAVIGATION
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GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION
GP is the image of the heavenly body on the surface of the earth at any given point of time.
The Geographical Position (GP) of a celestial body is the location on the surface of Earth from
which this body appears directly overhead (at a given point in time). The measurement of the body’s
altitude above the horizon ( Ho) with a sextant tells us how far we are from the GP
( Zenith distance = ZD = 900 – Ho).Therefore ,in order to derive our position we need to know the
observed body’s GP at the moment its altitude was measured. The GP’s and other data are
published in almanacs as a function of Universal Time (UT).
POSITION CIRCLE
A large circle drawn on the surface of the earth, with Geographical Position (GP) of body as the
center and radius as Zenith Distance (ZD).
A position circle can be measured both from a chart and from the surface of the earth for the
purpose of Position fixing.
The circles can be measured by sextant or by overlapping two position circles that can be used to
give a position fix.
POSITION LINE
A small part of the circumference of a Position Circle drawn on the surface of the earth,
which may be
considered as a straight line is called as a Position Line (PL) or Line of Position (LOP).
AZIMUTH
The azimuth is the angle formed between a reference direction (North) and a
line from the observer to
a point of interest projected on the same plane as the reference direction.
NAVIGATIONAL TRIANGLE (PZX TRIANGLE)
Z: Zenith
X: is the point on the celestial sphere of any heavenly body: Sun, moon, planets, stars etc. X is
described in terms of its angular height above or below the equator, known as its Declination
(corresponding to its Latitude), and its Hour Angle, the angle between its meridian and the Greenwich
(corresponding to its Longitude). This angle, known as the Greenwich Hour Angle (GHA).
This is a position of the ship found by allowing for the courses steered and distance
steamed through the water from a fixed position or any starting position. It is only an
approximate position.
DEAD RECKONING FIX OF ESTIMATED POSITION ALONG LOP
The calculated position, which a ship is expected to reach after allowing for her course and
speed and estimated leeway and the current (Set and Drift) is the estimated position
When only one line of position (LOP) is available, it is possible to find your estimated
position (EP) by using the dead reckoning position (DRP) as a guide.
RUNNING FIX
The position of a ship can also be ascertained by taking bearings (1 st and 2nd) at certain
interval of time; the course steered and the distance steamed between the two observations
being known.If two different celestial bodies are not available for simultaneous measurements,
it is possible to obtain the two lines of position by observing the same body twice within a few
hours. The first observed LOP then has to be displaced by the distance and direction travelled
during the time interval between observations.
2. METHODS OF OBTAINING POSITION THROUGH WHICH
PL PASSES
There are five common methods of plotting the position of the position line through which it passes.
These are:
•Using the DR longitude, find the GMT of meridian passage of the body at the observer.
•Convert the GMT to ship’s time and observe the meridian altitude of the body.
•Correct the altitude and name it North or South according to the bearing of the body when on meridian.
•Subtract the true altitude from 90 to obtain meridian zenith distance and name it opposite to the bearing.
•From the ALMANAC, obtain the body’s declination for that GMT.
•Apply the declination of the MZD, using rule “same names –ADD, different names- SUBTRACT”
and name the latitude according to the greater of the two.