SIGHT REDUCTION

SIGHT REDUCTION
The process of deriving from celestial observations the
information needed for establishing a line of position, LOP, is
called sight reduction.

The observation itself consists of

measuring the altitude of the
celestial body above the visible
horizon and noting the time.
 SIGHT REDUCTION
Reducing a celestial sight to obtain a line of position consists of
six steps:
1. Correct the sextant altitude, Hs, to obtain observed altitude,
Ho, (sometimes called true altitude).
2. Determine the body’s Greenwich Hour Angle, and declination,
Dec.
3. Select an assumed position, AP and find its Local Hour Angle,
LHA.
4. Compute altitude, Hc and azimuth, Zn, for the AP.
5. Compare the Hc and Ho.
6. Plot the line of position, LOP.
 SIGHT REDUCTION
The goal of celestial navigation is to determine the navigator’s
position from the intersection of two or more LOPs from
observations of the altitudes of one or more celestial bodies
and their geographic positions, GP, at the time of observation.
Locus – all possible positions of a point or curve satisfying
stated conditions.
The GP is the point on the Earth's surface that intersects the
line from a celestial body to the Earth's center. In other words,
at the GP, the celestial body is directly overhead.
The locus of points on the Earth's surface where a body
appears at a constant altitude forms a circle centered on the
GP.
So, when navigators observe the altitude of a body, they are
determining the circle of constant altitude on which they are
located.
SIGHT REDUCTION
 SIGHT REDUCTION
Except when a body's Ho approaches 90º, the portion of the
circle of constant altitude plotted on a chart can be
approximated by a line called the LOP.

When Ho is 90 we can determine directly position:

Lat = Dec
Lon = GHACB

What are the names of the coordinates??

 SIGHT REDUCTION
In sight reduction, navigators choose an assumed
position, AP, near, but usually not coincident with,
their DR position – when we use HD -605 tables.
The AP's latitude and longitude are chosen to
correspond with the Local Hour Angle, LHA, and
latitude which are entering arguments of the sight
reduction tables.
SIGHT REDUCTION

Plotting an LOP is done in four

steps:
1. Plot the AP.
2. Draw a light dashed line at
true azimuth Zn through the
AP.
3. Measure distance a = Ho-HC
along this line.
4. Draw a line perpendicular to
the azimuth line through this
point.
 SIGHT REDUCTION
We know: φz , λz, Universal time, date,
Using Almanac we find δCB, HACB for UT time
We need to calculate:
h C(Computed Altitude), A,

We use basic formula for solution undivided

celestial triangle:

sinhC = sinφAS*sinδcB+cosφAS* cosδcB*cosHAcB

And for Azymuth (Bearing)

cosAz = (sin δ - sin hC *sin φAS)/(cos hC *cos φAS)

 SIGHT REDUCTION
Calculation algorithm:
1. Calculate UT.

ZT
-Z
UT
Date!, hours.!

Chr.
+[Link]
UT

2. Calculate HACB ,δ C.B using Almanac(Moon, Sun, Planets ).

GHA cb for UTC

+pop. corr. for min. and sec./for planets corr.v in addition
GHA cb
+λ(+/-)
LHA cb
HAcb=
 SIGHT REDUCTION
Calculation algorithm:

2. Calculate HA,δ c.n using Almanac - stars.

GHAAries for hour UTC

+corr. For min. and sec.
GHA Barana
+SHA cb
GHA cb
+λ (+/-)
LHA cb
 SIGHT REDUCTION
Corrections for Sekstant measured Altitude:

1. IC (Index Correction): The instrumental correction for the sextant used.

2. D (Dip): Dip correction is a function of the height of eye of the observer
and atmospheric refraction. Its magnitude is determined from the Dip
Table on the inside front cover of the Nautical Almanac.
Sum: The sum of IC and D.
1. Hs (Sextant Altitude): The altitude of the body measured by the sextant.
2. Ha (Apparent Altitude): The sum of Hs and the IC and D corrections.

Alt. (Altitude) Correction: Every observation requires an altitude correction.

This correction is a function of the apparent altitude of the body. The Nautical
Almanac contains tables for determining these corrections. The tables for the
Sun, planets, and stars are located on the inside front cover and facing page,
pages A2 and A3. The tables for the Moon are located on the back inside
cover and preceding page.
 SIGHT REDUCTION
δ for UT hours
+corr. Planets, Sun, Moon. paramer d/ stars= 0
δ

3. Altitude corrections.

hc.b = Sextant Altitude;

+ ic = sextant corr. (index corr.)
hc.b =
+ dip = Dip correction for Height of eye (always -)
happ = Apparent Altitude;
+ op = altitude corr.
+ dpt,p = page. 3 – entering happ, ta, p;
Ho = Astronomical altitude.
 SIGHT REDUCTION
4. Calculate hC using formula:

sinhC = sinφAS*sinδcB+cosφAS* cosδCB*cosHAcb

hC=

5. Calculate A(Zn) using formula :

Cos A = (sin δ - sin HC *sin φAS)/(cos HC *cos φAS)

Or using ABC tables

A=

6. Calculate Δh = Ho- HC. Draw LOP.

 SIGHT REDUCTION
ABC Tables
A=

ctgA*sec φ = tgδ *cosecHA - tg φ *ctg HA

C B A

Rule for signs for coefficients A,B,C

A”-” when HA<90
A”+” when HA>90
B”+” when φ same name with δ
B”-” when φ contrary names with δ

when C „+” first name same of A same name with φ

when C „-” first name same of A contrary name with φ

Second name of A same name with HAc.b

SIGHT REDUCTION

LOP

Δh=Ho-Hc
Minus or
plus AP
Calculation algorithm ( Sight reduction tables HD605):
Calculation algorithm:

Calculate UT.

ZT
-Z
UT
Date!, hours.!

Chr.
+[Link]
UT

2. Calculate HACB ,δ C.B using Almanac(Moon, Sun, Planets ).

GHA cb for UTC

+pop. corr. for min. and sec./for planets corr.v in addition
GHA cb
+λ(+/-)
LHA cb
HAcb=
 SIGHT REDUCTION
Calculation algorithm ( Sight reduction tables HD605):

3. Assumed Position coordinates for entering HD 605:

φT – latitude rounded up or down to the nearest tabular value,

δT – declination always rounded down,
LHAT - Local Hour Angle rounded up or down to the nearest tabular value.

4. Enter HD 605 with tabular values.

When Lat. same name as Declination - („S”,”S”)(„N”,”N”), enter right page, when–
Lat. contrary name to Declination – Left page.
Find:
HC – computed altitude for AP and tabular LHA;
Z –Azimuth – semi circular system, Change to the circular system according instructions
d – parameter for dec. corr,
 SIGHT REDUCTION
Calculation algorithm ( Sight reduction tables HD605):

Instruction for Azimuth

conversion:

5. Corrections for computed altitude:

Hc (tabulated)
+Δ (correction for dec. Sign same name as parameter d)
+DSD (additional correction when at the d parameter is dot)
HC (Computed alt)

Computed alt is calculated for te following coordinated(assumed coordinates):

φ= φAS ,
λ= λAS ,
δ =δAS
 SIGHT REDUCTION
Calculation algorithm ( Sight reduction tables HD605):
Δ – correction for dec. From Interpolation Tables, where we enter with
parameter d and Δδ.
Example (star Alpheratz):
d= -53,7’ Δδ= δcn-δT=08˚33,6’-08˚=33,6’

We use tables – table covers.

 Metoda wysokościowa
Algorytm obliczeń( metoda tablicowa HD605):
 SIGHT REDUCTION
Calculation algorithm ( Sight reduction tables HD605):
6. Correct sextant altitude.

hC.B = Sextant Altitude;

+ ic = sextant corr. (index corr.)
hc.b =
+ dip = Dip correction for Height of eye (always -)
happ = Apparent Altitude;
+ op = altitude corr.
+ dpt,p = page. 3 – entering happ, ta, p(Air temperature,
pressure;
Ho = Astronomical altitude.
7. Altitude intercept Δh =HO-HC

8. Calculate Assumed longitude:

λAS(T)=LHAT - GHAC.B.

9. Draw LOP from Assumed position. (φAS, λAS(T))