Topic :(Marc St.

Hilaire Method) The Intercept Method

SLO: At the end of the lessons the students should be able to
1. To state the principles of intercept method.
2. To calculate the intercept by intercept method.
3. Determine the position line (P.L.)
4. Plot the line of position.
The Intercept Method(Marc St. Hilaire Method)

The Marco St. Hilaire Method is a modification of the

Summer’s Method. Instead of using the values of the altitude,
declination, and a latitude to compute for the value of the
meridian angle “t”, Marco St. Hilaire used the values of the D.R.
Latitude, declination, and meridian angle “t” based on the D.R.
Longitude, to find the value of the altitude. The altitude so compu-
ted when compared to the true altitude, the difference will repre-
sent the error of the D.R. or assumed position in latitude and longi-
tude. The true azimuth which this error is applied to establish the
true position.
 The Marco St. Hilaire method is worked by using the D.R.
Latitude in an assumed Latitude and Longitude to obtain the
altitude and azimuth that the body would have at that particular
position at the time of observation. This computed altitude (HC) is
then compared to the true altitude (Ho) to the determine the
error of the position used in computation. If the computed altitude
and the true altitude have the same value, then observer is on the
Line of position that passes through his D.R. or assumed position.
Should the two altitude differ, then it is obvious that the observer is
on the other line of position. The difference between the computed
altitude and the true altitude is known as the intercept, represented
By “A”.
 In laying off the intercept along the direction of the azimuth,
care should be exercised in plotting it in the correct direction that
is either TOWARDS or AWAY of the body from the D.R. or assumed
position.

If the true altitude (Ho) is greater than the computed altitude (HC)
Intercept “A” is laid towards the bearing of the body
If the computed altitude (HC) is greater than the true altitude (Ho)
Intercept “A” is laid away/opposite to the bearing of the body.

“A” = Ho-HC towards (Subtract the lesser from the greater)

“A” = HC-Ho away
Example: (Intercept Method)
On Sept. 3, afternoon when a chronometer read 10h 23m 01s,
chronometer error 05m 15s, the observed sextant altitude of the sun’s
Lower Limb was16⁰ 04’.8, Height of eye 19meters.
D.R. latitude 41⁰ 00’.0 N, Long.82⁰ 00’.0 W, Index error is zero.
Find:
1.) Correct GMT
2.) GHA of sun
3.) Declination of sun
4.) LHA of the sun
5.) Meridian angle “t” of sun
6.) True altitude (Ho)
7.) Computed altitude (Hc)
8.) Intercept “A”
9.) True azimuth of sun
10.) Position Line
Solution:
CT = 10h 23m 01s
CE = 00h 05m 15s
10h 28m 16s
12 (+)
1.) UT = 22h 28m 16s

GHA, LHA
Sept 3d 22h GHA= 150⁰ 12’.4 decl.= 7⁰ 23’.2 N (d -0.9)
28m 16s INCR= 7⁰ 04’.0 d’corrn= - 0’.4
2.) GHA= 157⁰ 14.4’ 3.) T/decl. = 7⁰ 22.8’ N
Long. = 82⁰ 00’.0 W
4.) LHA = 75⁰ 14.4’
True altitude (Ho)

HS = 16⁰ 04.8’
IE= 0.0
H = 16⁰ 04.8’
Note: ADD when Lat and decl.
DIP = - 7’.7 H.E. 19m have same names.
Ha. = 15⁰ 57.1’ Minus when Lat. and decl.
alt/ corr = + 12’.7 L.L. have contrary names.
Ho = 16⁰ 09.8

Computed altitude (HC)

sin Hc = (cos L x cos d x cos LHA) +/- (sin lat x sin decl)
= (cos 41⁰ x cos 7⁰ 22.8’ x cos 75⁰ 14.4) + (sin 41⁰ x sin 7⁰ 22.8’)
= (0.1907) + (0.0843)
HC = 15⁰ 57.6’
I ) Intercept “A”

Ho = 16⁰ 09.8’
HC = 15⁰ 57.6’
“A” = 12.6 Towards (Greater Observed Altitude Towards)
GOAT
J ) True Azimuth
A, B, C method

A = tan lat / tan LHA

name A opposite of lat / except if LHA is between 90° - 270°

B = tan dec / sin LHA name B same as your declanition

C = A + B / if lat. and dec. have same name

C = A – B / if lat. and dec. have different name
I)
A, B, C method
A = tan lat / tan LHA
name A opposite of lat / except if LHA is between 90° - 270°
tan lat = 41° 00.0’ = 0.8693
tan LHA = 075° 14.4’ = 3.7956
A = 0.2290 S
B = tan dec / sin LHA name B same as your declination
tan dec = 07° 22.8’ = 0.1295
sin LHA = 075° 14.4’ = 0.9670
B = 0.1339 N
C = A + B / if lat. and dec. have same name
C = A – B / if lat. and dec. have different name
C = 0.0951 S
tan Z = 1 / (C x cos (lat))
1 / (0.0951 x cos (41)) = 13.9352 shift tan Ans = S 085.9° W
Zn = 180 + 85.9 = 265.9° or 266°
 K. Position Line
265.7 + 90 = 355⁰.7
355.7 – 180= 175⁰.7

20
18
355⁰.7

16
14

265⁰.7
C.P.
“A”= 12’.2
+ D.R. Position
12
10
8
6
175⁰.7

4
2
0
Nautical miles
 355⁰

20
Int.=12’.2 T 18
16
265⁰ 14
D.R.
12
10
8
6
4
175⁰
2
0
Example: (Intercept Method) Name of star Alkaid
On Sept. 3, afternoon when a chronometer read 10h 23m 01s,
chronometer error 05m 15s, the observed sextant altitude of the sun’s
Lower Limb was16⁰ 04’.8, Height of eye 19meters.
D.R. latitude 41⁰ 00’.0 N, Long.82⁰ 00’.0 W, Index error is zero.
Find:
1.) Correct GMT
2.) GHA of star
3.) Declination of star
4.) LHA of the star
5.) Meridian angle “t” of star
6.) True altitude (Ho)
7.) Computed altitude (Hc)
8.) Intercept “A”
9.) True azimuth of star
10.) Position Line
 CT = 10h 23m 01s
CE = 00h 05m 15s
10h 28m 16s
12 (+)
1.) UT = 22h 28m 16s

GHA, LHA star Alkaid

Sept 3d 22h GHA aries = 312⁰ 46.6’

28m 16s in/corr = 7⁰ 05.2
2.) GHA aries = 319⁰ 51.8’
SHA star = 152⁰ 53.2’ Decl = 49⁰ 12.0’
GHA star = 472⁰ 45.0’ (greater than 360)
360⁰ (-)
GHA star = 112⁰ 45.0’
long. = 082⁰ 00.0’ W (-)
LHA star = 030⁰ 45.0’
 On Sept. 3, afternoon when a chronometer read 10h 23m 01s,
chronometer error 05m 15s, the observed sextant altitude of the
sun’s Lower Limb was 66⁰ 39.1’, Height of eye 19meters.
D.R. latitude 41⁰ 00’.0 N, Long.82⁰ 00’.0 W, Index error is zero.

Hs = 66⁰ 39.1’
IE = 0’
Hs = 66⁰ 39.1’
HE = - 7.7’ (19m)
Ha = 66⁰ 31.4’
Alt./corr = + 15.5’
Ho = 66⁰ 46.9’
sin Hc = cos lat x cos dec x cos LHA +/- sin lat x sin dec
cos lat = 41⁰ 00.0’ = 0.7547
cos dec = 49 ⁰ 12.0’ = 0.6534
cos LHA = 030⁰ 45.0’ = 0.8594
= 0.4238

sin lat = 41⁰ 00.0’ = 0.6561

sin dec = 49 ⁰ 12.0’ = 0.7570
= 0.4966

X = 0.4238 N. Same name (+)

Y = 0.4966 N + Diff. name (-)
M = 0.9204 shift sin Ans = Hc = 66⁰ 59.5’

Ho = 66 ⁰ 46.9’
Hc = 66 ⁰ 59.5’
“a” = 12.6 Away
Finding azimuth by A, B, C method
A = tan lat / tan LHA
tan lat = 41⁰ 00.0’ = 0.8693 name A opposite latitude except
tan LHA = 030⁰ 45.0’ = 0.5949 when LHA is between 90⁰ - 270⁰
A = 1.4611 S
B = tan dec / sin LHA
tan dec = 49⁰ 12.0’ = 1.1585
sin LHA = 030⁰ 45.0’ = 0.5118 name B same as your declination
B = 2.2658 N
C=A+B if lat and dec have same name
C=A–B If lat and dec have diff. name
A = 1.4611 S. tan Z = 1 ÷ ( C x cos (lat)) =
B = 2.2658 N - 1 ÷ (0.8047 x cos (0.7547)) = 1.6466 shift tan ans =
C = 0.8047 N. Z = N 58.7 W name Z according to C
LHA>180, name E
360 – 58.7 = LHA<180, name W
Azi = 301.3⁰ T
Seatwork:

1. June 21, at about 1500hrs in D.R. Lat. 15⁰ 40’.0 S, Long. 169⁰ 15’.0 E
when chronometer read 03h 43m 17s, the observed sextant altitude
of the sun’s U. L. was 49⁰ 28’.3, height of eye 12.7meters, Chrono-
meter error is nil; index error is 1’.5 off the arc .
Find: a) Approx. GMT
b) Correct GMT
c) GHA of sun
d) Declination of sun
e) LHA of the sun
f) Meridian angle “t” of sun
g) True altitude (Ho)
h) Computed altitude (Hc)
I ) Intercept “A”
J ) True azimuth of sun
K) Position Line