On 16 January at 1804 zone time, you take a sextant observation of Polaris. Your vessel's DR position is LAT 36°12' N, LONG 124°36' W, and your sextant reads (hs) 37°16.4'. Your chronometer reads 02h 02m 12s, and is 01m 36s slow. Your height of eye is 60 feet, and the index error is 1.5' on the arc. From your observation of Polaris, what is the latitude of your vessel?
Official USCG Answer & Rule Citation
Correct Answer: Option D — 36°17.9'N
Apply index error and dip corrections to sextant altitude. Determine LHA Aries from GMT. Using Polaris tables in the Nautical Almanac, apply corrections for latitude, LHA Aries, and date to obtain accurate latitude 36°17.9'N.
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