Celestial Navigation I

Calculating Latitude By Observing Heavenly Bodies

Geographical Position (GP)

Imaging a line linking a heavenly body and the center of the earth

The point where this line cuts through the earth is the bodys Geographical Position (GP)

Geographical Position (GP)

If you are not at the GP when you look up you only see your own To you the body is at a different elevation zenith, and not in the sky. The angle between the body and the body in your own zenith is the zenith distance question

A person who stands at the GP of a body would look straight up to see that body.

Altitude & Declination

You are at a point due North of the GP. To see the star you look to the SOUTH
The horizon line is a tangent to the earth that passes through your position
Z

You are HERE

P ALT

The altitude is the angle of elevation you measure for the star above the horizon

GP DEC

The declination of a heavenly body is simply the latitude of its GP. This information is available to Navigators in published logs.

Altitude & Declination

We must also consider the fact that the tilt of the Earth changes seasonally as the Earth orbits the sun
P Z

GP

The GP (and so the declination) of a star thus changes throughout the year. It is important that any navigator has up to date charts that give declinations on a daily basis.