On 12 February your 0542 zone time (ZT) fix gives you a position of LAT 26°42.0'N, LONG 60°18.0'W. Your vessel is on course 300°T, and your speed is 9.8 knots. Local apparent noon (LAN) occurs at 1220 ZT at which time a meridian altitude of the Sun's lower limb is observed. The observed altitude (Ho) for this sight is 49°10.0'. What is the calculated latitude at LAN?

Question

Accepted Answer

Option C: 27°16.3'N. Advance the 0542 fix to the time of LAN (1220) using the vessel's course and speed. Determine the Sun's declination at LAN. Apply the meridian altitude formula (Lat = 90 - Ho + Dec) to the corrected Ho to find the latitude at transit, 27°16.3'N, following standard Bowditch celestial navigation procedures.