On 22 August in DR position LAT 29°41.8'N, LONG 33°15.5'W, you take an ex- meridian observation of the Moon's upper limb at upper transit. The chronometer time of the sight is 08h 00m 02s, and the chronometer error is 02m 20s slow. The sextant altitude (hs) is 74°32.4'. The index error is 1.5' off the arc, and your height of eye is 48 feet. What is the latitude at meridian transit?

Question

Accepted Answer

Option A: LAT 29°47.8'N. Processing a lunar ex-meridian observation requires accurate application of chronometer time, tabular corrections for semi-diameter, horizontal parallax, and upper limb reduction. Correcting sextant altitude through standard sight reduction tables yields the true meridian latitude of LAT 29°47.8'N.