etho fo alulating a Celetial P if not

peifie in the uetion

Compiled By: Capt. Sunil Bhabha

We can calculate Celestial Position lines by using the following methods.

1. Latitude by Meridian Altitude.

2. Longitude by Chronometer.
3. Intercept or Marcq St Hilaire method.
4. Ex Meridian method.
5. Polaris or Pole Star observations.

Sometimes the question on Calculating Position Lines involves more than one PL and does not specify which
method is to be used for obtaining the PL and subsequently the Fix. The following sequence can be used to assess
which method is most suitable in the given conditions.

1. First of all check if the body is on the observer’s Meridian. This may be mentioned by using words like
Merpass, or crossing the observer’s meridian or the body’s Azimuth is North / South / 000˚ /180˚. If so the
Latitude by Meridian altitude method is to be used for this sight. Keep in mind that DR Latitude may not be
given for this method. The latitude thus obtained will be the Fix latitude.

2. If the body is not on the meridian, check if it is a Polaris or Pole Star sight. If so, PL has to be obtained using
Polaris correction table in the Almanac. Keep in mind that if Polaris Azimuth is exactly North or 000˚, the
Polaris sight will also give you the Fix Latitude.

3. If the above two points do not apply, Check if Fix Latitude is given in the question or has been calculated using
point 1 or 2. If so, use Longitude by Chronometer method. Though Intercept method can also be used in this
case but the advantage of Longitude by Chronometer is that it will give you the fix longitude straightaway and
you don’t even need to calculate the Azimuth. With Intercept method the Azimuth has to be calculated and
the PL has to be plotted graphically for obtaining the fix requiring much longer calculation and time.

4. If a body is mentioned to be Close to the Meridian or near the meridian, it is expected to be worked with the
ex-meridian method. Ex meridian method is not generally used unless the question specifically mentions it, as
Intercept method can be used in all conditions where body is close to meridian without any limits or
restrictions unlike ex meridian.

5. If the celestial body happens to be close to the meridian (Azimuth is close to North / South / 000˚ /180˚) do
not use Longitude by Chronometer. This is because the error in Longitude by chronometer becomes high if
body is close to meridian. This happens because of a small angle of cut between the PL & the DR Latitude.

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