On 14 March at 1845 ZT, you take a sextant observation of Polaris. Your DR position is LAT 29°10' N, LONG 154°30' W, and your sextant reads 29°53.5'. Your chronometer reads 04h 42m 36s, and the chronometer error is 02m 24s slow. Your height of eye is 24 feet, and the index error is 1.3' off the arc. Determine the latitude by Polaris.

Question

On 14 March at 1845 ZT, you take a sextant observation of Polaris. Your DR position is LAT 29&deg;10' N, LONG 154&deg;30' W, and your sextant reads 29&deg;53.5'. Your chronometer reads 04h 42m 36s, and the chronometer error is 02m 24s slow. Your height of eye is 24 feet, and the index error is 1.3' off the arc. Determine the latitude by Polaris.

Accepted Answer

Option D: 29&deg;21.3'N. Correct the sextant altitude for index error, dip, and refraction. Calculate the LHA of Aries using the chronometer time and longitude. Apply the Polaris correction factors (a0, a1, a2) as prescribed in the Nautical Almanac to the altitude to determine the latitude, yielding the final result of 29°21.3'N.