Cel Nav Notes 01

CELESTIAL NAVIGATION NOTES 01
The following Formulae are shown as an aide-memoir
1. Parallel Sailing: dep = d'long X Cos M Lat
2. Plane Sailing: Tan co = dep / d'lat
Dist = d'lat X sec co
3. Mercator Sailing: Tan co = d'long / DMP
Dist = d'lat X sec co
4. Sin amp = sin dec x sec lat
5. Latitude by Meridian altitude: lat = MZD ± dec
6. Polaris Sights: Obs lat = T. alt + a0 + a1+ a2 - 10
7. Longitude by chronometer
Cos P = [sin T alt ± Sin lat. Sin dec] / (Cos lat. Cos dec)
8. Intercept
Cos CZD = Cos P. Cos lat. Cos dec ± Sin lat. Sin dec
9. Ex Meridian
Cos MZD = Cos TZD + [(1-Cos P). Cos DR lat. Cos dec]
PLANE SAILING
Q.1. Two ships A and B doing equal speeds are both in 40 S, B being to east of A. The
d'long between the two ships is 2° 00’. Ship A steers 130° T while ship B steers 230° T. Find
the lat reached when they are 30 miles apart.
D'long = 2° = 120’
Dep = d'long X Cos lat
= 120 X Cos 40
= 91.9’
KI - 2MATE 1 Jan 2022

AD = BC = 30.95
Tan 40 = CE /CB
CE = Tan 40 X 30.95
= 25.97’
Latitude reached = 40° S + 25.97’ S
= 40° 25.97’ S
AMPLITUDE
Q.1. In DR lat 40 N the rising sun bore 120 C. Given dec of sun S 5° 20’, variation 4 W. Find
the deviation of compass. [Ans: T Az = 97.0 (T), dev 19.0 W]
Q.2. In DR lat 30 S the setting sun bore 300° C. Given dec of sun N 22° 48’, variation 2 W.
Find the deviation of compass. (Ans: T Az = 296.6 (T), dev 1.4 W)
LHA
Q.1.CalcuLate LHA of a star who’s RA is 60°, for an observer in longitude 057° E when GHA
Aries is 200°. (Answer: 197°)
SHA Star = 360 – RA
= 360 --………..
= ……………
LHA Aries = GHA Aries ± Long.
= 200 ±…………….
=…………………….
LHA Star = LHA Aries + SHA Star
= …………...+ …………
= ……………

Q.2. Find SHA of moon when the LHA of moon in longitude 040° W was 330° and GHA
Aries was 250°. (Answer: 120°)
LHA Aries = GHA Aries – long W
=.………….--…………..
= ……………
EHA Moon = 360° -- LHA Moon
= ……………………
SHA moon = 360° -- (EHA Moon + LHA Aries)
= 360° --(……….+…………)
= ---------------
Q.3. A star with an SHA of 253° 20’ had an LHA 213° 45’in longitude 124° 40’ W. If RAMS
then was 17H 06M 12S, find the GMT at that instant. (Answer: GMT = 00H 34M 08S)

RAMS = 17H 06M 12S =17.10333H = 17.10333 X 15° = -----------
SHA MS = 360 – RAMS = -------------------
LHA star = SHA star + GHA aries – long W
GHA Aries = LHA star – SHA star + long W
= -------------------------------------------
= -------------
GHA MS = GHA Aries + SHA MS
= ------------------------------- = ----------------
GMT is measured from inferior meridian to the meridian passing through the mean sun
measured westward.
GMT MS = -------° ------‘
= -----H ------M ------S

ALTITUDE
Q.1.On 5th March of the current year, the sextant altitude of Sun’s lower limb was 55° 30’.
Find the true altitude of Sun if index error of the sextant was 1.8’ off the arc and the height of
eye was 13 meters. (55° 41.1’)
SUN
Sextant alt = ---------------
IE = --------------- On - Off +
Observed alt = ---------------
Dip (HE) = --------------- Dip is -
Apparent alt = ---------------
Total corn = --------------- L.L + UL -
True alt = ---------------
Solve the same problem to find the true altitude of planet (Venus) and star (Vega). Take the
sextant altitude as 55° 30’. Take other parameters same as in Q.1.
PLANET (VENUS)
Sextant alt = --------------
IE = -------------- On - Off +
Observed alt = --------------
Dip (HE) = -------------- Dip -
Apparent alt = --------------
Total Cor = -------------- Refraction -
Additional Cor = -------------- Only for Venus & Mars for a particular month
True alt = --------------(55° 24.9’)
Q.2.Sextant altitude of Moon’s lower limb was 40° 20’, IE 2.8’ on the arc, HE 13 m, HP
55.5’.Calculate the true altitude. Use current almanac.
MOON
Sextant alt = --------------
IE = --------------
Observed alt = --------------

Dip (HE) = --------------
Apparent alt = --------------
1st Cor = ------------(Use the altitude cor table at the back of almanac)
2nd Cor (HP) = ---------------(“ “ “ “)
True alt = ---------------(410 07.3’)
BACK ANGLE
Star and planets: Work out in the usual way till you get the apparent altitude. Subtract
apparent altitude from 180°, and then apply total Cor and (additional Cor Venus and Mars
only)
Planet
Q.1. Find the true altitude of Venus on 5th Feb, if the sextant altitude was 120° 50’,I.E was
3.5’ off the arc and HE was 10m. Use current year almanac. (Ans: 59° 11.6’)
Sextant alt = --------------
IE = --------------
Observed alt = --------------
Dip (HE) = --------------
Apparent alt = --------------
= ---------------- (Subtract from 180°)
Total Cor = --------------
Additional Cor = --------------
True alt = --------------
Sun
Work out in the usual way till you get the apparent altitude. Subtract apparent altitude from
180°;apply refraction (always –ve), Semi-diameter (opposite, LL –ve) and parallax (always
+ve)
Q.2. When the Sextant altitude of sun’s LL was 120° 50’ on 5 th May, I.E was 3.5’ off the arc
and HE was 10m. Find the true altitude of the sun. Use current year almanac. (Ans: 58°
55.8’)
Sextant alt = --------------

IE = --------------
Observed alt = --------------
Dip (HE) = --------------
Apparent alt = --------------
= --------------- (Subtract from 180°)
Refraction = (-) ------------ (as usual –ve)
= ----------------
Semi-diameter = (-) ----------- (Opposite, LL –ve)
= ---------------
Parallax = (+) ----------- (As usual, always +ve)
True altitude = ---------------
MERIDIAN ALTITUDE
Q.1. In DR Lat 25° 00’ N 120° 00’ E, True altitude of sun, when on meridian was 75° 15’.
Declination of the sun was 10° 20’ N. Calculate the Obs Latitude. (Ans: 25° 05’ N)
T.alt. =…………..S
(Name it S or N depending on bearing of the body when on the meridian)
MZD =……………..N (opposite to the bearing)
dec =……………..
Obs lat =……………….
(MZD and dec same name ADD, different name SUBTRACT and name the Latitude after
the greater one)
POLE STAR
Q.1.IN DR 18° 05’ 178° 10’ E, IN THE MONTH OF SEPT. MORNING, THE TRUE ALTITUDE OF
POLARIS WAS 18° 37.0’. GIVEN: GHA ARIES WAS 240° 44.5’ AND AO = 0 º17.6’. FIND THE
DIRECTION OF PL AND A POSITION THROUGH WHICH TO DRAW IT. ANS OBS LAT 17° 55.5’ N LONG
178° 10’ E AZ 359.8°
GHA ARIES =………….

LONG =………….
LHA ARIES =………….
TRUE ALTITUDE =………….. AZIMUTH = …………
AO = …………. P/ L =………….
A1 = …………..
A2 = …………..
……………
--1°
---------------------

OBS LAT =………….. DR LONG =……………..
Q.2. IN DR 36º 00’ N 160º 10’ W, IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER EVENING THE TRUE ALTITUDE
OF POLARIS WAS OBSERVED ON THE SHIP AS 36º 08.9’. FIND THE SHIP’S LATITUDE AND THE
DIRECTION OF PL. GIVEN GHA ARIES AS 082º 35.8’ AND AO= 1 º 18.2’. ANS 36° 28.5’ N 160° 10’
W AZ 000.9°
GHA ARIES =………….
LONG =………….
LHA ARIES =………….
TRUE ALTITUDE =………….. AZIMUTH = …………
AO = …………. P/ L =………….
A1 = …………..
A2 = …………..
……………
--1°
---------------------
OBS LAT =………….. DR LONG =……………..
LONGITUDE BY CHRONOMETER
THESE PROBLEMS COULD BE SOLVED BY USING NAUTICAL TABLES OR BY USING SCIENTIFIC
CALCULATORS, AS THEIR USE IS PERMITTED IN THE EXAM AND THEY ARE FASTER TO GET THE
ANSWER, HOWEVER IF YOU FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WORKING WITH NAUTICAL TABLES YOU
CAN DO SO.
In this chapter we have straight away given the values of GHA, true altitude and declination
of the heavenly bodies. This has been done so as to avoid the compulsion of using the
almanac of a particular year.
(WHILE USING NORIES TABLES: ‘A’ IS NORMALLY NAMED OPPOSITE TO LAT, ‘B’ IS NAMED THE
SAME AS DECLINATION. FOR NAMING ‘C’ IF A AND B ARE OF SAME NAME, ADD AND RETAIN NAME;
IF OF CONTRARY NAMES, SUBTRACT AND RETAIN NAME OF LARGER ONE. THE AZ IS NAMED AS
FOLLOWS: THE PREFIX N OR S IS THE NAME OF ‘C’ WHEREAS THE SUFFIX E OR W DEPENDS ON
THE VALUE OF LHA. IF LHA IS BETWEEN 0° AND 180°, THE BODY LIES TO THE WEST AND IF IT IS
BETWEEN 180° AND 360°, THE BODY LIES TO THE EAST)
Sun
Q.1. IN DR 26° 25’ N 130° 25’ W, IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER MORNING, TRUE ALTITUDE OF
THE SUN WAS OBSERVED TO BE 28° 10’.CALCULATE THE DIRECTION OF PL AND A POSITION
THROUGH WHICH TO DRAW IT. GIVEN GHA OF SUN 090° 10.0’, DEC 21° 35’ S. ANS OBS LONG
130° 24.5’ W AZ 137º T
GHA OF SUN =…………..

T ALT =…………. DEC =………………
TZD =………….. LAT =…………….
CALCULATION BY SCIENTIFIC CALCULATOR, USE THE FOLLOWING FORMULA:

COS P = {SIN T ALT ± SIN LAT SIN DEC} / (COS LAT COS DEC)
(IF LAT AND DEC ARE SAME NAME (-), CONTRARY NAMES (+)
TRUE ALTITUDE = ----------------
LAT = ----------------
DEC = -----------------
COS P = {SIN ALT ± SIN LAT SIN DEC} / (COS LAT COS DEC)
P = ----------------------
= 360 – P (BECAUSE THE SIGHT WAS TAKEN BEFORE MERIDIAN PASSAGE)

LHA =………………
GHA =………………
OBS LONG =………………
A = TAN LAT / TAN P B = TAN DEC / SIN P
A = -------------NAMED OPPOSITE TO LAT
B = -------------SAME AS DECLINATION
C = -------------
TAN AZ = 1 / (C. COS LAT)
AZ = ------------------------- PL = --------------------
DR LAT = ------------------ OBS LONG = --------------------
Q.2. IN DR 10° 10’ S 000° 10’ E, IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST EVENING, TRUE ALTITUDE OF THE
SUN WAS OBSERVED TO BE 39° 20’.CALCULATE THE DIRECTION OF PL AND A POSITION THROUGH
WHICH TO DRAW IT. GIVEN GHA OF SUN 47° 25.2’, DEC 8° 24.1’ N. ANS OBS LONG 000° 03.7’
W AZ 289.8°
T ALT =…………. DEC =………………
TZD =………….. LAT = …………….
(L~D) =……………...
(LAT & DEC SAME NAME SUBTRACT, OPPOSITE NAME ADD)
CALCULATION BY SCIENTIFIC CALCULATER, USE THE FOLLOWING FORMULA:

TRUE ALTITUDE = ----------------
LAT = ----------------
DEC = -----------------
P = ----------------------
LHA =………………
GHA =………………
C = -------------
AZ = ------------------------- PL = --------------------
DR LAT = ------------------ OBS LONG = --------------------
Q.3. IN DR 40° 15’ S 175° 30’ E, IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY EVENING, TRUE ALTITUDE OF THE
SUN WAS OBSERVED TO BE 43° 32.8’.CALCULATE THE DIRECTION OF PL AND A POSITION
THROUGH WHICH TO DRAW IT. GIVEN GHA OF SUN 234° 23.2’, DEC 20° 30.4’ S. (ANSWER: OBS
LONG. 175º 17.3’ E AZ 279.9° )
T ALT =…………. DEC =………………
TZD =………….. LAT = …………….
(

TRUE ALTITUDE = ----------------
LAT = ----------------
DEC = -----------------

P = ----------------------
LHA =………………
GHA =………………
A = ------------NAMED OPPOSITE TO LAT
C = -------------
AZ = ------------------------- PL = --------------------
DR LAT = ------------------ OBS LONG = --------------------
STAR
Q.1. IN DR 34°30’ S 003° 25’ W, IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST EVENING, TRUE ALTITUDE OF STAR
SPICA WAS 45° 16.9’. FIND THE DIRECTION OF PL AND A POSITION THROUGH WHICH TO DRAW IT.
GIVEN GHA STAR 45° 17’. ANS: OBS LONG 003° 17.4’ W, AZ N 068.9°W
GHA OF STAR =………….
T ALT =…………. DEC =………………
TZD =………….. LAT = …………….
(L~D) =……………...

TRUE ALTITUDE = ----------------
LAT = ----------------
DEC = -----------------
P = ----------------------
LHA =………………
GHA =………………
C = -------------
AZ = ------------------------- PL = --------------------
DR LAT = ------------------ OBS LONG = --------------------
Q.2. IN DR 25°35’ N 117° 15’ W, IN THE MONTH OF NOV. MORNING, TRUE ALTITUDE OF STAR
RIGEL WAS 35° 00’. FIND THE DIRECTION OF PL AND A POSITION THROUGH WHICH TO DRAW IT.
GIVEN GHA STAR 162° 17.4’. ANS OBS LAT 117° 38.7’ W AZ S 58.1°W
GHA OF STAR =………….
T ALT =…………. DEC =………………
TZD =………….. LAT = …………….
LHA =…………….. A =…………

GHA =…………….. B =………….
OBS LONG =…………….. C =………….
DR LAT =…………….. AZ =…………. PL =……………


TRUE ALTITUDE = ----------------
LAT = ----------------
DEC = -----------------
P = ----------------------
LHA =………………
GHA =………………
C = -------------
AZ = ------------------------- PL = --------------------
DR LAT = ------------------ OBS LONG = --------------------
INTERCEPT
THESE PROBLEMS COULD BE SOLVED BY USING NAUTICAL TABLES OR BY USING SCIENTIFIC
CALCULATORS.
SOLVE THE PROBLEMS BY USE OF SCIENTIFIC CALCULATIONS IN THIS BOOK, AS THEIR USE IS
PERMITTED IN THE EXAM AND THEY ARE FASTER TO GET THE ANSWER, HOWEVER IF YOU FEEL
MORE COMFORTABLE WORKING WITH NAUTICAL TABLES YOU CAN DO SO.
In this chapter we have straight away given the values of GHA, true altitude and declination
of the heavenly bodies. This has been done so as to avoid the compulsion of using the
almanac of a particular year.
ALSO THE CHRONOMETER TIME IS NOT GIVEN. IN PREVIOUS CHAPTER ENOUGH PROBLEMS ON
CHRONOMETER AMBIGUITY HAS BEEN GIVEN FOR THE STUDENT TO PRACTICE, AND HENCE
UNNECESSARY REPETITION OF SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM IS AVOIDED.SUN
Q.1. IN DR 26° 20’ N 130° 20’ W, IN THE MONTH OF NOV. MORNING, THE TRUE ALT OF SUN WAS
27° 43.6’. CALCULATE THE DIRECTION OF THE PL AND THE INTERCEPT. GIVEN GHA SUN 089°
45’, DEC 21° 37’ S ANS: INT. 16.0'(A), AZ S 43.3° E
T ALT = -------------
TZD =…………..
GHA SUN =…………..
LONG ± =…………. =………………
DEC
LHA SUN =………….. =…………….
LAT
(L~D) =……………...
T ALT = -------------------- TZD = ----------------

GHA SUN = --------------------
LONG ± = --------------------
LHA SUN = --------------------, LAT = -------------, DEC = -------------
IF LHA IS BETWEEN 0° AND 180°, P = LHA
IF LHA IS BETWEEN 180° & 360°, P = 360° - LHA
COS CZD = COS P. COS LAT COS DEC (±) SIN LAT SIN DEC
IF LAT AND DEC SAME NAME (+), CONTRARY NAME (-).
CZD = -----------------
TZD = ------------------
INTERCEPT = -----------------(AWAY / TOWARDS)

C = -------------
AZ = ------------------------- PL = --------------------
DR LAT ----------------- DR LONG -------------- INTERCEPT --------------
Q.2. IN DR 10° 10’ S 000° 10’ E, IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST EVENING, THE TRUE ALT OF SUN
WAS 39° 20.0’. CALCULATE THE DIRECTION OF THE PL AND THE INTERCEPT. GIVEN GHA SUN
047° 25.2’, DEC 8° 24.1’ N ANS: INT. 12.8' (T), AZ N 70.29° W
T ALT = -------------
TZD =…………..
GHA SUN =…………..
LONG ± =…………. DEC =………………
LHA SUN =………….. LAT = …………….
(L~D) =……………...
T ALT = -------------------- TZD = ----------------

GHA SUN = --------------------
LONG ± = --------------------
LHA SUN = --------------------, LAT = -------------, DEC = -------------
COS CZD = COS P. COS LAT COS DEC (±) SIN LAT SIN DEC
IF LAT AND DEC SAME NAME (+), CONTRARY NAME (-).
CZD = -----------------
TZD = ------------------
INTERCEPT = -----------------(AWAY / TOWARDS

C = -------------
AZ = ------------------------- PL = --------------------
DR LAT ----------------- DR LONG -------------- INTERCEPT --------------
EX-MERIDIAN
If you miss out the meridian passage sight due to clouds, rain etc. you can still get an
accurate observed latitude through which to draw a position line, provided you take the sight
within the ex-meridian limits.
THESE LIMITS ARE GIVEN IN NAUTICAL TABLES (EX-MERIDIAN TABLE IV IN BURTON’S AND TABLES I
& IV IN CASE OF NORIES). THESE LIMITS ARE GIVEN IN MINUTES OF TIME, SAY 10 MINUTES. THAT
MEANS YOU CAN TAKE THE EX-MERIDIAN SIGHT UP TO 10 MINUTES ON EITHER SIDE OF THE TIME
OF MERIDIAN PASSAGE.
IF THE MERIDIAN PASS TIME IS SAY, 1220 HRS YOU CAN TAKE THE EX-MERIDIAN SIGHT FROM
1210 HRS TILL 1230 HRS.
SUN
Q.1. IN DR 27° 20’ N 168° 10’ W, IN THE MONTH OF MARCH, THE TRUE ALTITUDE OF SUN NEAR
THE MERIDIAN WAS 56° 27.3’. FIND THE DIRECTION OF THE PL AND A POSITION THROUGH WHICH
TO DRAW IT. GIVEN GHA SUN 165° 48’, DEC 6° 03’ S. ANS. OBS. LAT. 27º 25.0’ N, AZ. S
004.3º E
T ALT = -----------------
TZD = -----------------

FROM TABLE I – VALUE F (BURTON’S) OR VALUE A (NORIES) = -------------
FROM TABLE II - FIRST COR. = -------------
FROM TABLE III - SECOND COR. = (-)----------
R EDUCTION = -------------
TZD = -----------------. A =…………
REDUCTION = (-) -------------. B =………….
MZD = ------------------. C =………….
DEC = ------------------. AZ =…………. PL =…………..
OBS LAT = ------------------
GHA SUN = --------------------

LONG = --------------------
LHA SUN = --------------------
LAT = --------------------
DEC = ---------------------
SCIENTIFIC CALCULATOR USING THE FORMULA CAN OBTAIN MZD:
COS MZD = COS TZD+ [(1- COS P). COS LAT. COS DEC]
TZD = -----------, P= -------------, DR LAT = ----------, DEC = ---------
MZD = --------------
DEC = ---------------
OBS LAT = ---------------
DR LONG = ---------------

A = -------------
B = -------------
C = -------------
TAN AZ = 1 / (C. COS LAT) = -------------

AZ = ------------------------- PL = --------------------

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CELESTIAL NAVIGATION NOTES 01

The following Formulae are shown as an aide-memoir

1. Parallel Sailing: dep = d'long X Cos M Lat

2. Plane Sailing: Tan co = dep / d'lat

Dist = d'lat X sec co

3. Mercator Sailing: Tan co = d'long / DMP

Dist = d'lat X sec co

4. Sin amp = sin dec x sec lat

5. Latitude by Meridian altitude: lat = MZD ± dec

6. Polaris Sights: Obs lat = T. alt + a0 + a1+ a2 - 10

Dep = d'long X Cos lat

KI - 2MATE 1 Jan 2022

Latitude reached = 40° S + 25.97’ S

SHA Star = 360 – RA

LHA Aries = GHA Aries ± Long.

LHA Star = LHA Aries + SHA Star

KI - 2MATE 2 Jan 2022

LHA Aries = GHA Aries – long W

EHA Moon = 360° -- LHA Moon

SHA moon = 360° -- (EHA Moon + LHA Aries)

KI - 2MATE 3 Jan 2022

SHA MS = 360 – RAMS = -------------------

LHA star = SHA star + GHA aries – long W

GHA Aries = LHA star – SHA star + long W

GHA MS = GHA Aries + SHA MS

GMT MS = -------° ------‘

= -----H ------M ------S

KI - 2MATE 4 Jan 2022

Sextant alt = ---------------

Observed alt = ---------------

Dip (HE) = --------------- Dip is -

Apparent alt = ---------------

Total corn = --------------- L.L + UL -

True alt = ---------------

Sextant alt = --------------

Observed alt = --------------

Dip (HE) = -------------- Dip -

Apparent alt = --------------

Total Cor = -------------- Refraction -

True alt = --------------(55° 24.9’)

Observed alt = --------------

KI - 2MATE 5 Jan 2022

Apparent alt = --------------

2nd Cor (HP) = ---------------(“ “ “ “)

True alt = ---------------(410 07.3’)

Sextant alt = --------------

Observed alt = --------------

Dip (HE) = --------------

Apparent alt = --------------

= ---------------- (Subtract from 180°)

Total Cor = --------------

Additional Cor = --------------

True alt = --------------

Sextant alt = --------------

KI - 2MATE 6 Jan 2022

Observed alt = --------------

Dip (HE) = --------------

Apparent alt = --------------

= --------------- (Subtract from 180°)

Refraction = (-) ------------ (as usual –ve)