On 1 July your 0515 zone time fix gives you a position of LAT 23°24.0'S, LONG 151°42.0'W. Your vessel is on course 240°T, and your speed is 10.0 knots. Local apparent noon (LAN) occurs at 1215 zone time, at which time a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is observed. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 42°55.0'. What is the latitude at 1200 ZT?

Question

Accepted Answer

Option D: 23°59.7'S. Calculate the Sun's declination at LAN using the Nautical Almanac. Apply the meridian altitude formula: Latitude = (90° - Ho) ± Declination. Adjust the DR position for the run from 0515 to 1200 ZT to find the vessel's latitude at 1200, which results in 23°59.7'S.