On 30 August in DR position LAT 26°34.0'N, LONG 141°36.0'W, you take an ex-meridian observation of the Sun's lower limb. The chronometer time of the sight is 09h 15m 26s, and the chronometer error is 00m 00s. The sextant altitude (hs) is 71°41.7'. The index error is 3.2' off the arc, and your height of eye is 49.6 feet. What is the latitude at meridian transit?

Question

On 30 August in DR position LAT 26&deg;34.0'N, LONG 141&deg;36.0'W, you take an ex-meridian observation of the Sun's lower limb. The chronometer time of the sight is 09h 15m 26s, and the chronometer error is 00m 00s. The sextant altitude (hs) is 71&deg;41.7'. The index error is 3.2' off the arc, and your height of eye is 49.6 feet. What is the latitude at meridian transit?

Accepted Answer

Option A: LAT 26&deg;41.9'N. Apply chronometer correction to determine GMT and obtain Greenwich Hour Angle (GHA) from the Nautical Almanac. Correct observed sextant altitude for index error (off the arc) and height of eye. Compute meridian altitude and apply declination to yield LAT 26°41.9'N per Bowditch methods.