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Celestial Navigation: Position Line Method

Chapter 14 discusses the Marc St Hilaire Method for determining a body's position on the celestial sphere using its GHA and Declination. It explains how to form a PZX triangle from a DR position to calculate zenith distance and intercept, which aids in finding the Intercept Terminal Point. An example is provided to illustrate the calculations involved in determining the position line and azimuth based on observed celestial data.

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9 views7 pages

Celestial Navigation: Position Line Method

Chapter 14 discusses the Marc St Hilaire Method for determining a body's position on the celestial sphere using its GHA and Declination. It explains how to form a PZX triangle from a DR position to calculate zenith distance and intercept, which aids in finding the Intercept Terminal Point. An example is provided to illustrate the calculations involved in determining the position line and azimuth based on observed celestial data.

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sanjutandel1637
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© All Rights Reserved
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Chapter 14

Position line: Marc St Hilaire Method


The position of the body on the celestial sphere can be determined by its GHA and
Declination, both of which are provided for any given instant of UTC in the Nautical
Almanac.

By joining a line from the body to the Earth’s centre it will cut the Earth’s surface at
the Geographical Position of the body.

The position is that point on the Earth’s surface which has the body directly overhead.

Most observation will produce position circles of thousands of miles in radius so this
data is of little use by itself.

If an observer assumes a DR position, then a PZX triangle can be formed and the
zenith distance calculated on the basis of this DR position.

Due to the immense size of the position circle, that part of its circumference which
lies within the vicinity of the DR position can be considered as a straight line, and
such also can be considered a position line at right angles to the Azimuth.

A comparison to the true and the calculated zenith distance will indicate the distance
of the position line from the DR position i.e the Intercept.

The intercept . in conjunction with the Azimuth will allow the Intercept Terminal
Point ( or ITP) to tbe calculated i.e the position through which the position line can be
drawn.
Solved Example:

Q1.

Date 18.07.2000 DR Lat 49°02’.0N DR Long 005° 15’0W


Observed Body: Sun LL

Local Time 18d 08h 15m 00s GHA (08H) 298° 26.7’ Dec N20° 56.9’
Long W 00h 21m 00s Inc (36’ 54’’) 9° 13.5’ “d”(-0.4) -0.2’
Approx GMT 18d 08h 36m 00s GHA 307° 40.2’ Dec N20° 56.7’
Chron 18d 08h 31m 04s Long W 005° 15.0’ –
Error slow +5m 50s LHA 302° 25.2’
Correct GMT 18d 08h 36m 54s

Cos CZX = (Cos LHA x Cos Lat x Cos Dec)+/-(Sin Lat x Sin Dec)
Cos CZX = (Cos 302° 25.2’ x Cos 49° 02’ x Cos 20° 56.7’) + (Sin 49° 02’ x Sin 20°
56.7’)
Cos CZX = 0.598
CZX = 53° 15.6’

Sext Alt 36° 52.0’


IE (on) -2.0’
Obs Alt 36° 50.0’
Dip -5.4’
App Alt 36° 44.6’
A = tan 49° 02’ T Corn +14.7’
tan 302° 25’.2 True Alt 36° 59.3’
A = 0.731 S ~ 90° 00.0’
TZX 53° 00.7’
B = tan 20° 56’.7 CZX 53° 15.6’
Sin 302° 25’.2 Intcept 14.9’(T)
B = 0.453 N
A = 0.731 S
B = 0.453 N –
C= 0.278 S Tan Az = 1________
0.278 x cos 49° 02’

Tan Az = 5.487
Az = S 79.7° E = 100.3° T

P/L runs 010.3°/190.3° T

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