General Navigation USCG Question #1587 (Set 50)

The radius of a circle of equal altitude for a body equals the body's __________.

Official USCG Answer & Rule Citation

Correct Answer: Option B — zenith distance

As established in Bowditch and Pub 229, the circle of equal altitude (or intercept method base circle) has a radius equal to the zenith distance, which is mathematically derived by subtracting the body's true altitude ($H_c$ or $H_o$) from 90 degrees.

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