On 23 August in DR position LAT 24°22.0'S, LONG 64°55.3'E, you take an ex- meridian observation of the Moon's upper limb at upper transit. The chronometer time of the sight is 02h 15m 04s, and the chronometer error is 01m 06s fast. The sextant altitude (hs) is 48°03.6'. The index error is 2.0' on the arc, and your height of eye is 60 feet (21.0 meters). What is the latitude at meridian transit?

Question

Accepted Answer

Option A: 24°20.5'S. Ex-meridian sight reduction for the Moon requires applying Greenwich Hour Angle, semi-diameter, parallax, and height of eye corrections to determine true altitude. Calculating the reduction factor (v factor) for near-transit observations yields the correct meridian latitude of 24°20.5'S.