On 15 March in DR position LAT 21°42.0'N, LONG 55°26.0'W, you take an ex-meridian observation of the Sun's lower limb. The chronometer time of the sight is 04h 02m 40s, and the chronometer error is 02m 24s fast. The sextant altitude (hs) is 66°15.6'. The index error is 2.8' on the arc, and your height of eye is 56 feet. What is the latitude at meridian transit?

Question

On 15 March in DR position LAT 21&deg;42.0'N, LONG 55&deg;26.0'W, you take an ex-meridian observation of the Sun's lower limb. The chronometer time of the sight is 04h 02m 40s, and the chronometer error is 02m 24s fast. The sextant altitude (hs) is 66&deg;15.6'. The index error is 2.8' on the arc, and your height of eye is 56 feet. What is the latitude at meridian transit?

Accepted Answer

Option D: 21&deg;32.0'N. Determine GMT using chronometer data, apply standard index error and height of eye corrections to the observed altitude, and extract solar declination. Use Bowditch ex-meridian reduction techniques to solve for the exact latitude at meridian transit, yielding 21°32.0'N.