On 15 December in DR position LAT 23°24.0'N, LONG 55°36.0'W, you take an ex- meridian observation of the Sun's lower limb. The chronometer time of the sight is 03h 45m 19s, and the chronometer error is 00m 00s. The sextant altitude (hs) is 43°02.3'. The index error is 2.6' on the arc, and your height of eye is 65.0 feet. What is the latitude at meridian transit?

Question

Accepted Answer

Option A: LAT 23°33.5'N. Ex-meridian observations require applying the reduction factor 'p' to find the meridian angle at transit. Using standard nautical almanac data and the Nautical Rules of Navigation, the corrected sextant altitude yields a precise latitude of 23°33.5'N.