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At night in the northern hemisphere, measure the angle above the northern horizon of the star Polaris. The elevation of Polaris is, within three-quarters of a degree or so, your latitude.
If you also have a watch and a copy of the Nautical Almanac, you can apply a simple correction to calculate your latitude to whatever accuracy you can read your sextant.
Polaris isn't a particularly bright star, and a little mist at sea can prevent you from seeing it. A somewhat more useful observation is the "local apparent noon sight", measuring the altitude of the Sun and the exact time when the Sun is highest in the sky. This can give you an amazingly accurate one-observation "fix" of your position, and is the most common celestial observation. However, this does require an ACCURATE watch.
What else can I help you with?
What latitude on earth is a celestial pole 45 above the horizon'?
At 45 degrees north latitude, the north celestial pole appears 45 degrees above the northern horizon. At 45 degrees south latitude, the south celestial pole appears 45 degrees above the southern horizon.
By locating the north celestial pole how can you determine your latitude?
The altitude of the celestial pole from the horizon actually tells you your latitude. So If I locate Polaris, the star that our earth's celestial pole points to and I see it's 40 degrees above the horizon to the north, I know that my latitude is 40 degrees north. Think about the extremes, if your on the equator looking for the celestial pole, you would see it on the northern horizon correct? (0 degrees) Now think of where the celestial pole would be pointing when on the north pole. You guessed it, straight up! (90 degrees)
What never sets at your latitude?
Any sky object within (your latitude) degrees of the north celestial pole.
How much latitude does the North Pole measure?
The North Pole is at 90 degrees North Latitude.
How is the altitude of the North Celestial Pole above the northern horizon related to the observer's latitude?
The altitude of the North Celestial Pole above the northern horizon is equal to the observer's latitude. This means that the higher the observer's latitude, the higher the North Celestial Pole will appear in the sky. For example, an observer at a latitude of 45 degrees will see the North Celestial Pole 45 degrees above the northern horizon.
How do you determine the altitude at which the celestial equator cuts the meridian?
The altitude at which the celestial equator intersects your local meridian is the complementof your latitude, i.e. the difference between your latitude and 90 degrees.On the equator: Your latitude is zero. (90 - 0) = 90. Celestial equator passes overhead.At the pole: Your latitude is 90. (90 - 90) = 0. Celestial equator coincides with the horizon.In New Orleans, Louisiana, or Durban, South Africa: Your latitude is 30. (90 - 30) = 60.Celestial equator intersects local meridian at 60 degrees above the horizon.
What is the angle between the zenith and North celestial pole if you are at 37 degrees latitude?
If your latitude is 39 degrees north, then the north celestial poleis 39 degrees above your northern horizon.If your latitude is 39 degrees south, then the north celestial poleis 39 degrees below your northern horizon.
What is the highest measure possiable for latitude?
The greatest possible latitude is 90 degrees. 90 degrees north latitude is the north pole. 90 degrees south latitude is the south pole.
Which stars are in the sky the longest?
The stars that are spaced less than your latitude from the celestial pole never set.
What is your location if the South celestial pole appears on your meridian at an altitude of 30 degrees in the south?
If there were a way to see the south celestial pole, and it was 40 degrees above the horizon, then you would be somewhere along the line of 40 degrees south latitude. Unfortunately, there is no star at or near the south celestial pole, so there is no way for you to see the south celestial pole and observe its elevation.
Measures distance north and south of the equator?
The North Pole is at 90 degrees north latitude, and the South Pole is at 90 degrees south latitude. So, distance north or south of the equator is called 'latitude'. One way to remember this is to think of the rungs of a ladder. "Ladder"-- "Lati-" you step up or down the 'rungs of ladder-tude'.
What are the altitude and azimuth coordinates of the North Celestrial Pole in new york?
The azimuth of the North Celestial Pole is zero ... it's due North. The altitude of the North Celestial Pole is the same as your north latitude. In mid-town Manhattan, that's about 42.6 degrees.
