On 5 May in DR position LAT 38°34.5'N, LONG 124°20.7'W, you take an ex-meridian observation of the Sun's lower limb. The chronometer time of the sight is 07h 59m 10s, and the chronometer error is 01m 10s slow. The sextant altitude (hs) is 67°27.0'. The index error is 1.4' on the arc, and your height of eye is 30 feet. What is the latitude at meridian transit?

Question

On 5 May in DR position LAT 38&deg;34.5'N, LONG 124&deg;20.7'W, you take an ex-meridian observation of the Sun's lower limb. The chronometer time of the sight is 07h 59m 10s, and the chronometer error is 01m 10s slow. The sextant altitude (hs) is 67&deg;27.0'. The index error is 1.4' on the arc, and your height of eye is 30 feet. What is the latitude at meridian transit?

Accepted Answer

Option C: LAT 38&deg;36.0'N. Determine latitude at meridian transit using the ex-meridian formula. Correct the sextant altitude for index error, dip, and refraction to obtain the observed altitude. Applying the reduction to the meridian, the calculated latitude is 38 degrees 36.0 minutes North, aligning with the celestial navigation computation.