Sun Sights and Plotting

RYA Yachtmaster Ocean
Sun Sights and Plotting
RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Theory Course
Sun Sights and Plotting

What will I learn in this lecture?
This lecture covers parts of topic 6 of the RYA syllabus and is the most intensive.
You will learn how to reduce a sun sight using the AP 3270 tables. You do not have to know any
mathematics for this section.
Working on this topic

This lecture follows on from the lecture on Meridian Passage.
You should also have completed RYA exercises 1 to 3 and 5.
RYA exercises 4, 5, 6 and 7 should be completed when prompted to do so.
The RYA syllabus includes a section on the use of calculators for working out sights. Our experience
is that this is of little real assistance. These days, if you want to work out a sight electronically,
theres a range of programmes available for a variety of computers.
We suggest that you work everything out manually during this course using the tables that are
supplied. You will understand the processes this way and might even find it quicker!
Suggested time
Based on the RYA syllabus we suggest you allow around four hours of study time plus time for the
RYA coursework.
Sun Sights
Tiller School 2006
Page 1 of 36
Yachtmaster Ocean Course Version 08 - j
Finding your way around this lecture

CHAPTER 1 - MORE ON THE THEORY...................................................................................................... 3
SIMPLE PRINCIPLE ............................................................................................................................................. 3
WE NEED A BIT MORE THEORY .......................................................................................................................... 3
CHAPTER 2 - GREENWICH HOUR ANGLE AND LONGITUDE ............................................................ 5
LOCAL HOUR ANGLE ........................................................................................................................................ 8
CHAPTER 3 - USING THE SUN AT ANY TIME OF DAY........................................................................ 10
CHAPTER 4 - CALCULATED ALTITUDE THE BASICS ..................................................................... 12
GENERAL PRINCIPLES - A REMINDER ............................................................................................................... 12
SOLVING THE PROBLEM ................................................................................................................................... 12
INTRODUCING THE AP TABLES ........................................................................................................................ 12
THE CHOSEN POSITION ................................................................................................................................... 13
CHAPTER 5 - CALCULATED ALTITUDE - APPLYING THE TABLES ............................................... 16
CHAPTER 6 - PLOTTING.............................................................................................................................. 18
PLOTTING SHEETS AND CHARTS....................................................................................................................... 18
PLOTTING A POSITION...................................................................................................................................... 18
PLOTTING OPTIONS .......................................................................................................................................... 19
CHAPTER 7 - THE PLOTTING SHEET WITH THIS COURSE.............................................................. 20
CHAPTER 8 - USING THE SHEET IS STRAIGHTFORWARD............................................................... 21
STEP 1 - CUSTOMISE THE SHEET (PAGE 27) ................................................................................................... 21
STEP 2 - PLOT THE CP (PAGE 28)..................................................................................................................... 21
STEP 3 - PLOT ZN (PAGE 28)............................................................................................................................. 21
STEP 4 - PLOT THE POSITION LINE (PAGE 29) ................................................................................................... 21
SOME HINTS AND TIPS ..................................................................................................................................... 22
CHAPTER 9 - PLOTTING A POSITION ..................................................................................................... 23
SUN SIGHTS ..................................................................................................................................................... 23
STAR SIGHTS ................................................................................................................................................... 23
TRANSFERRING A POSITION LINE ..................................................................................................................... 23
RUNNING FIXES............................................................................................................................................... 23
ASTRO NAVIGATION IMPLICATIONS:................................................................................................................ 24
CHAPTER 10 - PLOTTING SHEET WORKED EXAMPLES................................................................... 26
CHAPTER 11 - SUN - RUN - SUN ................................................................................................................. 31
CHAPTER 12 - TRANSFERRED POSITION LINES AND EPS .............................................................. 32
CHAPTER 13 - CAN YOU HELP FRED?..................................................................................................... 33
CHAPTER 14 - ANSWERS ............................................................................................................................. 34
Sun Sights
Tiller School 2006
Page 2 of 36
Chapter 1 - More on the Theory

First, lets take a breather; youve worked on a number of new concepts so
?? How much can you remember?1
1. Describe how time is handled worldwide.
2. If it is 22:00 in Zone + 10 on November 30th what is the UT and GD?
3. Describe the steps to convert an SA to a TA as concisely as you can.
4. Can you define a Zenith and a ZD?
Simple principle
Think for a moment about the Zenith. It is the point on the celestial sphere vertically above the
observer and this means that there is a straight line between the centre of the earth, the observer and
the point on the celestial sphere above him or her.
We could reverse that and
say that for each body on the
celestial sphere there is a
point on the earths surface
lying on the straight line
between the body and the
centre of the celestial sphere
(which is also the centre of
the earth). This is called the
Geographical (or sometimes
the Ground) Position (GP) of
the body.
Geographical Position GP
GP - the point on the earths surface on a line between the
centre of the celestial sphere and the body
GP - has a
Once we know the GP of a

Latitude &
body we can use some
Longitude
sleight of hand to work out
how far we are from it and
use that information to work
out a position line. If we
have two position lines we have a fix and the problem has been solved for the general case. It allows
us to use a sight of any astronomical body at any time to derive a position line.
Tiller School 1998
31
Think about the Meridian Passage sight in this light for a moment.
?? What, in terms of a position line, does it give us?2
We need a bit more theory

Hang on to the simple concept as you study some more astro theory. Remember that if we know
where the GP of our observed body is, then we can use it to work out a position line (NOT, directly,
a position) which we can use conventionally on a chart. Thats the goal but how do we do it?
The movements of the astronomical bodies (sun, moon, planets, and stars) are both predictable and
accurately tabulated for us. This means that if we can measure, or deduce, the angles accurately
enough we can work out our position or, at least, a position line.
Sun Sights
Tiller School 2006
Page 3 of 36

It is all based on the ability to measure angles and times very accurately and everything else we need
is tabulated for us. The process of reducing a sight is little more than filling in a form and adding and
subtracting a few numbers.
Unfortunately it has its own terminology and it definitely helps if you have an understanding of what
you are doing. It helps you to avoid silly errors and also allows you to make reasonableness checks
as you proceed.
It is time to learn a little more Astro Theory. We left it at the point where you had gained an
understanding of Hour Angles - Greenwich and Local or GHA and LHA, the Zenith and the Position
Circle.
?? First a little exercise to help you remember the definitions because we then strayed onto
more practical topics such as Time and the Meridian Passage sight. Are the following
statements true or false (if false try to correct them)?3
1. The GHA of a body is the angle, relative to the appropriate (North or South) pole between
the Prime (Greenwich) Meridian and the meridian of the body. It is measured only in a
Westward direction
2. The SHA of a star shares the definition of GHA except that it is measured relative to the
First Point of Aries
3. FPA rotates 360 every 24 hours relative to the Greenwich Meridian
4. GHA of a body minus LHA of the same body always equals the observers longitude
5. GHA star = GHA of FPA + SHA star
6. The declination of a star is, to all intents and purposes, unchanging
Dont worry too much if the next bit of theory appears to be a bit jargon prone and complex to
understand, it is quite a common reaction! The concepts, at the level we study them, are most
definitely within your grasp even though the mathematics would be completely incomprehensible to
most people. Luckily, we dont need mathematics to handle astro navigation, just the concepts and
the terminology. If you remember that in astro a distance and a position can both be defined as
angles then all should be well.
In the classroom we often revisit the theory after completing the work on sun sights. Youll be
pleased to know that this is a subject where you can learn WHAT to do to calculate a position
without understanding WHY you have done it. Learning how to do it often helps you to understand
the theory.
Sun Sights
Tiller School 2006
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Chapter 2 - Greenwich Hour Angle and Longitude

Angles are key to this topic and here is what we
need to know. We cant progress to real astro
navigation quite yet but we are getting there.
1800
The Prime Meridian is an

artificial reference point which,
by agreement, passes through
Greenwich
We are looking
DOWNWARDS
at the N Pole
North
Pole
ial
s tr
rre or
T e uat
Eq
Longitude is measured to the East or West of the

Prime Meridian (Figure 1). We know that the
limits are 180W and 180E and as we cross
from one to the other so our longitude switches
from one NAME (East or West) to the other and
the date changes.
Longitude
W 900
E 900
This picture introduces a new format to you. We

Measure
are looking vertically downwards towards the
WEST
North or South Pole and the limit of what we
Prime Meridian
can see is the equator (take an apple or orange,
treat the stalk as the North Pole and you can see
Figure 1 - longitude revisited
what we mean). This is the Gnomonic
projection.
Measure
EAST
?? Incidentally can you remember what

happens when going from W to E across the International Date Line at midnight?4
Equation of Time
The relationship between longitude and time is that we define a day as being exactly 24 hours long.
The conversion of arc to time table on RYA page 19 helps us make the calculations.
Predictably perhaps, the real universe doesnt exactly follow a 24 hour day. The Equation of Time
block (bottom right of RYA page 13 for example) tells us one particularly useful piece of information
and that is the time of Meridian Passage for the sun (and the moon).
?? Can you define what this means?5
For example, 12h 13m is the LOCAL time of Meridian Passage on February 24th. This means that at
the moment of Mer Pass on February 24th the time, to the observer, will be 13 minutes past 12
wherever he or she might be.
Astro Longitude - the GHA

GHA =
1100
North
Pole
l
tia
les or
Ce uat
Eq
Strictly speaking the Equation of Time is the excess of

Mean Time over Apparent Time and can be a positive
time (February and June in the RYA booklet) or negative
(September). It tells us how much the assumed 24 hour
day differs from real world (the earths rate of rotation
and orbit around the sun).
Greenwich Hour Angle
Heres the problem. We define a position on earth in
familiar terms using Latitude and Longitude. We are
comfortable with the use of angles to define the position
and accept without a second thought the two
measurement datums of the Equator and the Prime
Meridian.
Looking
down from
Greenwich Hour
above the N
Angle - the angle at
Pole
a point in time
between the prime
meridian and the
Prime or Greenwich Meridian
meridian of the
GHA is only measured clockwise
body
Figure 2 - GHA
Astronomical longitude is very similar to longitude but

uses a new term the Hour Angle. It is measured from
the same arbitrary reference point - the Greenwich or Prime Meridian and Figure 2 both gives you
Sun Sights
Tiller School 2006
Page 5 of 36

the general idea and continues with the same format as Figure 1. Hang on to the concept as we
investigate hour angles in a bit more detail. We need to find how to define the position of a heavenly
body at a moment in time. We can use this information to determine our position on earth but only
after we apply some cunning logical trickery to solve the problem.
When considering Hour Angle we are looking
DOWN from outside the Celestial sphere to the
North (or South) pole of the earth and seeing as
far as the equator. This format allows us to
correctly show meridians of longitude as straight
lines.
GHA
900
In Figure 2 a GHA for the body of 110 is

exactly equivalent to a Longitude of 110W. It
would be WRONG to write an hour angle
with a NAME and so the GHA is 110.
GHA is measured clockwise and Figure 3 makes
the point - the body concerned has a GHA of
220. It does NOT have a GHA of 140E.
1800
GHA
2200
00
2700
Greenwich
Meridian
Figure 3 - GHA
Handling the stars
Sidereal Longitude
l
tia
les or
Ce uat
Eq
North
Pole
al
ere
Sid gle
An
There is just one difference with the stars. You

may recall that the stars are assumed to be
glued to the celestial sphere but, to us, they
rotate. This gives us a clue - the celestial sphere,
in our theoretical world of astro navigation, is
rotating. Actually, of course, it is the earth that is
doing the spinning.
u
Ho
There is a reference point for stars (Figure 4)

Similar concept for the
stars. First Point of
called the First Point of Aries and usually
Aries (FPA) is a
referred to as FPA or the Greek symbol of a
reference point from
which we measure the
rams horn. FPA isnt a physical entity, we cant
longitude of a star. The
SHA changes very
touch it or feel it but it does provide us with a
slowly over time.
reference point or datum when working with the
stars. Theres a slightly more formal definition in Figure 4 - Sidereal longitude
the Glossary.
Its formal definition (Figure 5) is meaningful in
the sense that it is defined as the point where
the sun's path crosses the celestial (or earth's)
equator. It therefore rotates at 360 per day.
The definition doesnt matter much to us but it
does mean that FPA has a GHA but not a
declination.
Greenwich Meridian

North
Celestial
Equator
We can measure the angle from FPA to any

star and be confident that it will remain
essentially constant for quite long periods of
time (many years). This angle (Figure 6) is
called the SIDEREAL HOUR ANGLE (SHA)
and is a constant for all practical navigational
Sun Sights
Tiller School 2006
230 27 S
FPA - the point
where the suns
ecliptic crosses the
celestial equator.
FPA rotates around
the earth in 24 hours
approximately.
Ec
l
?? Check this on page 12 of the RYA booklet

now.
ip
t
ic
230 27 N
South
Figure 5 - FPA
Page 6 of 36

purposes. There will be a slow drift of the stars and the tables we use have a limited life of about ten
years.
?? Look at page 12 onwards in the RYA
booklet and make sure you can find the SHA
and declination for a star. Also prove for
yourself that the changes are very slow and of
the order of a few 1/10 of a minute over the six
months or so covered by the tables we have.
The significance of this is that FPA gives us
(roughly speaking) a stellar equivalent of the
'Prime Meridian'. It is moving but we can
position a star in terms of its Declination and
SIDEREAL HOUR ANGLE (SHA) relative to
FPA. This gives us a convenient way to locate
stars (Figure 7) but only if we can find FPA at
any point in time. The declination and SHA of a
star change but very slowly so we can treat them
as constant for quite long periods of time.
Sidereal Hour Angle

Celestial North Pole
GHA of FPA
SHA
Prime Meridian
Celestial equator
Stars
Meridian
GHA of Star
= GHA FPA
+ SHA for
star
First Point
of Aries
Figure 6 - SHA
?? Do we know where FPA is at any time?6

Figure 7 puts it together for you and we now have
an easy way to define the position (in terms of
angles) of any astronomical body.
Figures 8 to 10 summarise matters so far. The sun,
moon and planets are relatively close to the earth
and 'move' fairly rapidly across the celestial
sphere. We define their position in terms of
DECLINATION and GREENWICH HOUR
ANGLE (longitude). The only difference with the
stars is that we have a GHA for FPA plus a fixed
'offset' called the SHA and fixed declination for
each star.
The position of a heavenly body

Grid reference
Declination = Latitude
N and S
reference is celestial equator
Greenwich Hour Angle = Longitude

Measured clockwise from Greenwich Meridian
For stars the First Point of Aries
is a moving
point for which we have a GHA. The position of a
star is fixed relative to FPA.
Does this last paragraph make sense? It should and Figure 7 - heavenly position
you are beginning to develop the vocabulary and
concepts which will allow you to understand astro. If you cannot remember the terms then now is the
time to go back and work through this material
again.
Incidentally in a 24 hour period the suns GHA
The heavenly bodies
moves through 360 - VERY NEARLY. We know
Stars
that every four years there is a leap year and that
constant SHA and declination relative
from time to time there is a time 'correction'. The
to FPA
slow change over time
purpose of all this is to ensure that our earth
fixed to the celestial sphere
time, which is based on a 24 hour day, stays
GHA for FPA is tabulated for us
acceptably in line with more accurate and stable
Sun, Moon and Planets
time measurements based, these days, on atomic
move across celestial sphere
clocks. If this were not done then we would
GHA and declination tabulated for specific
experience a slow drift of the seasons. The
times in Almanacs
assumption is that all astronomical bodies operate
at a convenient 15 per hour EXACTLY. They do
Figure 8 - the heavenly bodies
not and it is in the nature of things that the
heavenly bodies do not follow prescribed orbits for
our convenience. There are inconsistencies and
Sun Sights
Tiller School 2006
Page 7 of 36

'wobbles' in their orbits, which mean that we cannot use the 15 per hour assumption for accurate
navigation. We can and do use it for sight planning and many other purposes.
?? Test yourself.7
Define
Declination
SHA
If someone tells you the SHA is 120 E
Is that valid?
If not how should it be expressed?
What will the suns GHA be at
15:00 GMT?
09:00 GMT?
Local Hour Angle

A GHA reminder
?? Look on pages 12 and 13 of your RYA study
pack and you will find the GHA tabulated for
each of the planets, the sun, the moon and FPA.
For all practical purposes we can see that if the
GHA of a body at NOON GMT is 0, then after 4
hours it will be 60, after 12 hours it will be 180
and, after 24 hours, it will be 0 again.
What about the observer then?
We can extend these concepts to include us - the
observer. Wherever we are on the earth we are
going to have a longitude. Looked at another way
we all have an hour angle which is dictated by our
position RELATIVE to the PRIME meridian.
The LOCAL HOUR ANGLE (Figure 10) of a body
is the same as the GHA but measured from the
observer's meridian rather than the Prime
Meridian. This has great significance to astro
navigation.
Finding the sun

Declination
and GHA are tabulated in

Nautical Almanac.
GHA is relative to GMT
Local time of Mer. Pass is required
calculate by adding (W longitude) / subtracting (E
longitude) the Longitude in Time
use arc to time table to convert angles to time or
vice versa
Figure 9 - finding the sun
Local Hour Angle

LHA 1640
GHA
2200
Observers
Local
meridian
is 560 W.
Greenwich
Meridian
Figure 10 - LHA 1
Sun Sights
Tiller School 2006
Page 8 of 36

?? If we know the LHA of the body and its GHA we can calculate our longitude - can you work
out how?8
Figure 11 introduces you to the final wrinkle on
LHA and it is to do with the NAME of the
observer's longitude. It is actually easy to work out
and remember - study Figure 10 again and we can
see that the LHA of a body based on an observer
with a Westerly Longitude is LESS than the GHA.
Conversely it will be greater than GHA with an
Easterly longitude. If you are not sure then draw the
equivalent diagram to Figure 10 for an Easterly
longitude.
Local Hour Angle

The
angle measured westwards between

the observers meridian (longitude) and
the astronomical body in question.
GHA is relative to the Greenwich Meridian
There is a LOCAL meridian for every
location on earth
LHA body = GHA body -West

Longitude or +East Longitude.
We now have two hour angles (Figure 12).

1. GHA measured from the Prime Meridian
applies to all bodies and to FPA. For stars their
GHA is GHA for FPA plus the SHA for the star
in question.
Figure 11 - LHA 2
2. LHA is measured from the observer's meridian and is otherwise the same as GHA.
?? Work through this exercise. It is designed to test your conceptual knowledge rather than
your maths so everything is in whole degrees. If you are unsure try drawing some simple
pictures.9
1. The sun has a GHA of 130 degrees. What is its LHA
if we are at:
a. 30 West?
b. 40 East?
2. What is our longitude if the LHA is 100?
3. SHA of a star is 135
a. If FP Aries has a GHA of 135 what is the
stars hour angle?
b. If FP Aries has a local hour angle of 090
what is our longitude and what is the stars
local hour angle?
Hour Angles
The measurement datum
Some
change
Local Hour Angle

Sun, Moon, Planets, FPA
Fixed
(in effect)

Relative to a fixed arbitrary meridian
Sidereal Hour Angle

Fixed relative to FPA (which moves)
?? Try the exercise below before we move on.10

1. Local noon is at 16:45 GMT. At that time
Figure 12 - hour angles summarised
a. What is our longitude?
b. What is the suns GHA and LHA?
2. A star has an SHA of 132 33.7 and FPA is 073 04.1
a. What will be its LHA if we are at 15 W?
b. If SHA was 332 33.7 what would the LHA be?
Sun Sights
Tiller School 2006
Page 9 of 36
Chapter 3 - Using the Sun at Any Time of Day

It is time to put our new found theory into practice. One of the most useful navigation bodies is the
sun. We can see it for long periods of time and, by definition, when we can see it we can also see the
horizon. What more can one want in astro terms?
We already know that it is quick and easy to use the sun to work out our latitude.
?? How can you describe it in one sentence? 11
It would be very desirable to be able to observe the sun at any convenient time, for example through
a break in thick cloud, and work out a position line.
The sun has one other very useful property for the navigator and it is to do with the length of time for
which it is visible during the day.
Think for a moment.
?? In what direction does the sun
rise and set?12
The suns bearing changes during

the day
The suns azimuth

changes during the
day from roughly E at
sunrise to roughly W
as it sets.
During its passage from sunrise to

sunset we perceive the sun as
swinging from roughly East to
roughly West and in the N
hemisphere the bearing of the sun
goes via due South (and vice versa in
the S hemisphere).
We know that our position line is
going to be at 90 to the suns
azimuth and this means that during
the day the position line is also going
to rotate.
The net of this is that if we observe
the sun in the morning at, say, 08:00
local time, again at midday and
finally at 16:00 we can arrange to get
a good angle of cut between the three
position lines. Using standard
plotting techniques we can transfer
the first to the second or even
transfer the first two to the third and
thereby obtain our position.
?? In the example above what will
be the angle between each pair of
position lines?13
This drawing applies to the N hemisphere
Position lines from the sun

This means that the
position line also
rotates so by choosing
our times we can get a
good angle of cut.
This drawing applies to the N hemisphere
This is a technique called sun - run - sun and, as the name implies, all we need to know is the
distance run and estimated track between sights to be able to establish a position. It doesnt matter
when the sights are taken and nor must it include Mer. Pass. although that is a useful and easy sight.
The only thing that matters, and it is no different from any other sight, is the angle of cut - too narrow
and our sights positional accuracy becomes suspect.
This doesnt sound too bad does it? Weve narrowed the problem down to deriving a position line
from a sun sight and then plotting it. Both are straightforward.
Sun Sights
Tiller School 2006
Page 10 of 36

Would you like some good news before we delve into the detail?
In fact, as you will soon find out, once you have mastered the technique for one body, in our
case it is the sun, you have mastered it for all observable bodies. The process of calculating the
TA may differ slightly but the tables and techniques for all bodies are then essentially the same.
Theres only one exception and that is with the stars - use the recommended ones and it is
actually EASIER!
Sun Sights
Tiller School 2006
Page 11 of 36
Chapter 4 - Calculated Altitude the Basics

To make wider use of the sun we need to be able to use the PZX triangle in a different way. Our aim
is to be able to establish a position line from a sun sight taken at any time.
General principles - a reminder

The tools of the trade are:
1. A set of sights and times from which we choose an accurate one or derive an ideal sight and
calculate the observed true altitude Ho.
2. Accurate knowledge of UT and Greenwich Date.
3. A DR or EP to give us our chosen position Z.
4. A way to compute the calculated true altitude Hc .We can use either the AP3270 Air Navigation
Tables or their equivalent or a scientific or programmable calculator. Our recommendation is to
use the tables - they are easy, quick and accurate once you know what you are doing.
Solving the problem

We know about the first three. What of the fourth?
The objective is to solve the PZX triangle. To do this we need to know the position of X - the GP of
the body. We also need to know where Z is and this is easy because we can use our DR or EP as a
good working assumption.
Once we have values for Z and X we can calculate the azimuth and altitude based on Z - our
CHOSEN POSITION or CP. There are numerous programmes which will handle the mathematics for
us on a variety of calculators and computers.
Alternatively we can use tables to perform this function.
Tables
The choices are essentially Air Navigation (AP3270) or Marine Navigation (NP401). For yachtsmen
the normal tables are the AP3270 set because:
They permit us to plan sights as well as reduce them.

The use of a consistent set means we have less to remember.
They were developed for hard pressed aircraft navigators and this means that they are very likely to
be both simple and rapid to use. Well be finding that they do, indeed, meet these criteria.
We could also use haversine and log tables. Well focus on the AP tables since these are best for
yachtsmen and are the preferred RYA method. If you intend to use a computer or calculator we still
suggest you understand how to do it manually. Electronics can fail.
Well consider, in turn, the tables and what they contain, the CP and how to select it to make the
tables usable and using the tables to work out the intercept and azimuth that are the goal of all this
hard work.
Introducing the AP tables

Lets look at the AP3270 extracts we have available to us. They are on pages 26 to 47 of the RYA
booklet.
?? Open the booklet and find them now.
Pages 26 - 29 are extracts from Part 1 of the tables and are used for sight planning and star
sight reduction (covered later in the course). Our extract covers latitude 50. In the real world
there is a similar set for each degree of latitude.
Sun Sights
Tiller School 2006
Page 12 of 36
Pages 30 to 45 are from Volume 3 of the tables and give us the calculated altitude Hc and
azimuth Z of the observed body from the chosen position. d is the difference in Hc between
successive pairs of declination columns.
The tables use Declination (horizontal axis) and LHA (vertical axis) for each degree of
latitude - we only have it for 50 and for each intersection of a row and column we find
values for HC, d and Z.
Pages 30 to 33 cover declinations of 0 to 14 with SAME name declination as latitude.
Pages 34 to 37 cover the same range of declination but with CONTRARY names.
Same for declinations 15 to 29 on pages 38 to 45.
You may have noticed that both LATITUDE and LHA are given in whole degrees. This is to reduce
the size of the table to a manageable set of volumes. Imagine similar tables for every 1/10th of a
minute of latitude, declination and LHA and it would be difficult to get them on board many yachts,
let alone keep her afloat with the weight of paper!
The consequence of this is that it imposes some constraints on how we choose the latitude and
longitude of Z our Chosen Position or CP.
The Chosen Position

Our goal is to select a CP that is close to our DR and meets the requirements of the AP tables. We
need to consider both latitude and longitude.
Latitude
The easy one - simply round it to the nearest whole degree and keep the name (N or S).
Longitude
The relationship between LHA, GHA and Longitude is that LHA = GHA + - Longitude. The NAME
(East or West) determines whether we add or subtract.
Our goal is to find a longitude that gives an LHA with a whole number of degrees for the body in
question AND is as close to the DR longitude as possible. We do this by ensuring that our CP is
never more than 30 from our DR position. That doesnt sound too painful and the next section gives
you some general rules for working out the longitude of our CP.
Remember that our goal is an LHA with a whole number of degrees and no minutes AND the
longitude of our CP is as close to our DR or EP as we can make it.
Chosen Longitude
We can restate the requirement very simply. We have to choose a longitude which, when added to,
or subtracted from, the GHA will yield an LHA in whole degrees.
Westerly Longitude:
The rule is simple and easy to understand:
Chosen LHA = GHA - nearest longitude to DR which will give a whole number LHA
For example:
If our DR is 50 17W and GHA 97 03 then the precise LHA would be 46 46 (97 03 minus
50 17).
The Chosen LHA would be 47 (97 03 - 5003) and the Chosen Longitude 50 03W.
Sun Sights
Tiller School 2006
Page 13 of 36

We want the CP to be as close to the DR or EP as possible and sometimes we may have to adjust
the CPs degrees to achieve this. In the example above it would be WRONG to choose an LHA
of 46 because the CP would then have to be 51 03W (97 03 -51 03).
So to put it another way if GHA is 97 03 we chose our longitude as 50 03W (within 30 of 50
17W) and subtract it to give an LHA of 47
Heres another example:
The Suns GHA is 235 43and DR Long. is 14 27W, work out the chosen LHA and CP.
The accurate LHA is 221 16 (i.e. GHA (235 43) DR Long (14 27).
To meet the requirement for a whole degree LHA we have to modify the DR longitude. In this
case it becomes 14 43W (we have to use a value for the minutes that makes the LHA a whole
number of degrees). The LHA is 221 (235 43 minus 14 43).
?? Had our DR long been 150 01W what chosen longitude and LHA would you use?14
Easterly Longitude
Arithmetically speaking we must use the complement of the minutes (subtract minutes from 60) in
the GHA and add GHA to chosen Long to get a whole number of LHA degrees.
This isnt nearly as difficult as it sounds as this example makes clear:
DR is
50 17E
GHA is
97 03
CP Long
49 57E. We have worked this out by taking the minutes of the GHA (3)
and subtracting them from 60 to get 57. This is the value of the minutes in our CP Longitude.
LHA
147 (97 03 + 49 57).
Note that 49 57 is a better CP Long than 50 57 because it is within 30 of our DR Long.

There are occasions, and this is one, when we need to adjust the CP longitudes degrees. In this
example we could have used a CP of 5057E by not making this adjustment. Far better to take a
moment to work out the degrees of longitude that will result in a chosen longitude that is as
close as possible to the DRs longitude. Clearly 49 57 is a lot nearer to 50 17 than either 50 57
or 51 57 so we choose 49 57E as the best CP Longitude.
The chosen DR dictates the value of the LHA that we will use in the tables
You might ask whether the degree in our CP actually matters. The answer is that if you do not make
the adjustment to get the nearest CP Longitude you could introduce an error of many miles in
calculating the intercept distance (see later). Your answer probably will not be wrong, but the
intercept will be longer and this makes the process of plotting a bit harder. It is not good practice for
this reason alone.
Doing it the simple way
Theres a lot to be said for making this a systematic process and a good sight form will help you to
systematise the whole process. Here are some simple rules for you:
DR Long. W
1.
2.
Put in CP long. minutes THEN

Put in CP long. degrees which make CP long. Within 30 of DR long.
DR Long. E
1.
Put in CP long. minutes calculated as (60 -GHA minutes)
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Tiller School 2006
Page 14 of 36

2.
Put in CP long. degrees to make CP closest to DR longitude.
?? Now have a go at filling in the blanks in this table: 15

GHA
DR Long
93 45
86 15
284 45
286 11
021 34W
02250W
033 18E
04310E
LHA for AP
tables
Chosen Longitude
?? Now try a more realistic exercise - use values for the sun.16
Weve given you a date and a time so you can work out the GHA for the sun from the tables to be
found on RYA pages 12 to 17.
Date
Time - UT
21 June 1980
25 Feb. 1980
22 Sept. 1980
11h 34m 5s
13h 28m 10s
09h 31m 43s
Sun Sights
Tiller School 2006
GHA sun
DR Long
LHA for AP
tables
Chosen
Longitude
121 23W
026 36W
019 41E
Page 15 of 36
Chapter 5 - Calculated Altitude - Applying the Tables

?? Look at the AP 3270 part 3 tables. Suppose we know the body we have observed, the date
and time of observation, our DR and a derived CP are we ready to use the tables?17
?? We know about declination - youve used it for the Mer. Pass calculations - so, if need be, go
back and refresh your memory now.
Now, at long last, we can solve the problem and obtain the values we need for navigation. Volume 3
of the AP tables gives us our calculated altitude Hc and azimuth Z.
Lets take an example and work it through step by step. We will not use a sight form at this stage.
A sight was taken and after due calculation the CP was calculated as 50 N, 17 4W, Suns
declination N 12 37, LHA 310.
?? Find the intercept and azimuth that should be plotted.
Here are the steps to follow:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Find the right table.

It is on pages 30 31.
?? Can you work out why?18
Note that the columns running across the page cover declination and give values of Hc,
d and Z for both the left hand and the right hand LHAs.
?? Check for yourself that if you entered the table with a declination of 10 and LHAs
of 305 and 55 you would get values of 29 45, +47 and 112.
Enter table with the values for our problem.
We need the column for a declination of 12 and the row corresponding to an LHA of 310.
?? What values did you get?19
We now have tabulated values for Z (the azimuth) and a value for Hc (the calculated
altitude). Neither is directly usable at this stage.
?? Can you work out why?20
Work out the correct HC.
3.1.
We obtained a value of +48 for d. It helps if we understand what this means so
look at the value of HC for declinations of 12 and 13.
?? Work out the difference in minutes? 21
3.2.
Once again you can work out the correct value arithmetically or use a table. The
latter is the way that most people prefer so turn to RYA pages 46 - 47.
3.3.
We know the minutes of declination and that HC changes by 48 minutes per degree
of declination at this LHA. We could guess that HC will be a bit more (37 sixtieths)
than half of 48 minutes so somewhere in the high twenties is a good reasonableness
check. Now enter the table with arguments (values) of 48 for d (the top row of the
table from 1 to 60) and 37 for minutes (of declination down both sides of the table)
and we find a value of 30.
3.4.
The correction to be applied is therefore 30, the sign of d is positive so we ADD
this correction. HC therefore becomes 34 48 (34 18 plus 30).
Convert the tabulated Azimuth (Z) to a True Bearing (Zn). It is called Zn to differentiate
it from the Z we find in the tables. The true bearing will vary depending on whether the
Azimuth is to the East or West of the observers meridian. It is not a toss of the coin
exercise and the rules have been handily included for us on the tables themselves.
?? Take a look now at the top and bottom of the table on page 30. Sensibly the formulae
for the Northern hemisphere are at the top and for the Southern at the bottom of the page.
Our latitude is 50 N so we use the top of the page.
LHA was 310.
Z was 115 so in this case we see that ZN = Z so ZN has a value of 115 T.
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Its not a hard exercise so have a go now (use a sight form from the Form Pack if it helps).
?? CP is 50 N, 16 45W; LHA 055, Declination N 11 41. Work out the HC and Zn.22
Heres a common source of error - dont forget which hemisphere you are working in!
Now well take this example the final step. We know the calculated altitude. If we also know the
observed altitude (i.e. TA from the sextant) we can calculate the intercept and its direction.
Do you remember GOAT? It simply says that if the observed altitude is greater than the calculated
altitude we are nearer to the bodys GP.
Fairly obviously if the reverse applies then our observed position is further from the GP than the CP.
The naming makes sense, for once, and GOAT is a useful and memorable acronym.
For example, if our HO were 30 55 then GOAT tells us that the intercept is AWAY (observed less
than calculated). The length of the intercept is simply the arithmetic difference between HC and HO so
in this case it is 10 miles.
?? Can you work out why this arithmetic works and is not affected by the latitude?23 Hint think
about the azimuth and intercept - is it part of a great circle and what does this mean?
The next stage is to put it all together. We know the basics but can we use a sight form? The answer
is YES, there is one in your Form Pack and also on the back of the plotting sheets. You should use
sight forms from now on.
?? Before you use it test your knowledge by writing your own. How much of the Meridian
Passage sight form can you reuse?
?? Try a sun sight reduction now. Work out RYA Exercise 4 Question 1. Key steps in working out
the answer are given in the endnote so if you are having a problem you should be able to work it out
backwards'.24
?? Now work on and complete RYA Exercise 4 and send it to us.
Sun Sights
Tiller School 2006
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Chapter 6 - Plotting
We cannot proceed until we know how to plot a position in mid ocean. Heres the problem; by using
a very clever logical trick we now have a way to establish a position line that will be on a bearing
(ZN) and at a distance (Intercept) relative to a known position (the CP) on the ocean.
How can we make use of it in practical navigation? The intercept is unlikely to be more than a few
miles long and yet our vessel may be thousands of miles from the shore and sailing on a featureless
void from the chart makers point of view.
Plotting sheets and charts

Few skippers are going to be thrilled at carrying a huge pile of charts containing nothing but empty
sea so that they can plot some position lines. Accurate plotting in a passage chart covering, for
example, the entire North Atlantic Ocean is not practical. The answer is to customise a general
blank chart to meet our needs. This allows us to carry a small number of reusable charts at a scale
that allows us to plot the intercept and position lines reasonably accurately. The blank chart is, these
days, usually called a plotting sheet and you have some with your course pack.
Theres no difference in principle between this, and the familiar process of switching between charts
to use the one with the most appropriate scale, as we move from pilotage to passage and back again.
The only difference is that we are going to make our own customised large scale chart and use it to
establish a position which can be plotted on the small scale passage chart (which might span a whole
ocean on one standard sized chart). As we close the land the navigator will automatically switch to a
pilotage chart and the position can then be plotted on that. The only thing to bear in mind is that a
position based on astro navigation is likely to be several miles in error and so care is required as land
is approached.
Plotting a position
Once we have customised the plotting sheet by inserting a latitude and longitude we can plot our
chosen position (CP), bearing and intercept and draw the position line as a short straight line at right
angles to the bearing.
?? True or false? The position line is a portion of a position circle centred on the ground
position of an observed body25
If we can plot two or more position lines then we have a position and that, really, is all there is to it,
except to remind you that a position line is just that, a position line.
Its source doesnt matter so we can cross our astro position line with another from ANY valid source.
We could use a line of soundings, a shipping lane or any other source to give us a position line. On
this course we are going to restrict ourselves to position lines derived from astro navigation but we
dont have to.
Incidentally it is all downhill from now, on as we study the use of stars. Theres no more new
theory to be learnt.
In mid ocean there is little point in trying to plot position lines on a chart. The accuracy would be
hopeless because of the scale of an ocean chart and the chart would, anyway, show little more than
'sea'. The normal technique is to use a plotting sheet and the one we prefer (and it is the one that
'Ocean Sailing' also uses) is the American version. The same plotting sheet is in the pad of Imray
plotting sheets included with your course.
When you work on the exercises this is the one to use, unless you have a strong preference and
experience with another.
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Everything that follows relates to the version we recommend.
Plotting options
There are a variety of ways to plot a position. They include:
1. Plotting on a chart - the problem is that most passage charts cover a very large area of water so
the scale makes accurate plotting very difficult. This is not true when closing a coast and using
passage charts. We may even be able to cross an astro position line with a depth or other position
line to get a position.
2. Plotting sheet - there are various ones but the one we will be using is easy and straightforward to
use. It employs a constant latitude scale - we add the units - and a variable longitude scale. A
different type of sheet has a variety of Latitude scales and a single Longitude scale.
3. Squared paper - the problem with this is that although the DIFFERENCE OF LONGITUDE
(angular distance) between meridians of longitude is constant with latitude the physical distance
(DEPARTURE) reduces for a given longitudinal difference as the latitude increases. The Imray
plotting sheet is one way to allow for this. An alternative is to use traverse tables.
To use squared paper we mark a latitude and longitude in degrees to suit our assumed
position. This might be our DR or it could be the CHOSEN POSITION (CP) that we used to
enter the AP3270 tables. You will sometimes find this referred to as the AP (Assumed
Position). Latitude is plotted conventionally. Traverse tables allow us to work out the
Longitude as a DISTANCE so we can use the same units for latitude and longitude on the
paper (e.g. 1 square is 1 minute of latitude or 1 mile). The CP can then be plotted correctly
and the intercept measured as usual from the latitude scale.
Squared paper - without traverse tables - requires us to, in effect, create a local traverse table
in the form of a graph.
There is not much merit in using squared paper or traverse tables. Although the techniques are
reasonably straightforward a plotting sheet is both easier and eliminates one source of error! We can
use the sheet directly with a minimum of preparation.
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Chapter 7 - The Plotting Sheet with this Course

The pad of plotting sheets we supply should be ample for this course.
If you need more we can supply them - please check with us for the cost including post and
packing.
?? Look at a sheet now from the pad with your course - there is an extract on page 26.
It has three working parts:
1. A TRUE compass grid in the centre.
2. A LATITUDE scale running from top to bottom. This is a fixed scale and spans any five degrees
of latitude or 300 miles.
3. A LONGITUDE scale in the bottom right hand corner. This is the key to using the plotting sheet.
You will recall that on a Mercator chart the Latitude scale is expanded as the latitude gets higher (i.e.
farther from the equator) so that the Longitude scale stays the same and the meridians and parallels
remain at 90 to each other.
?? Suppose we fixed the latitude scale. What will then happen to longitude on this variation of
the Mercator projection?26
The fixed latitude scale runs conventionally from North to South through the True compass rose.
Bear in mind that DISTANCE is measured on the LATITUDE scale. The unusual feature is that the
longitude scale has to be derived from the block at the bottom right.
With a latitude of 0 one degree of longitude should equal one degree of latitude.
?? Check it now for yourself.
Normally the latitude scale expands as latitude increases on a Mercator chart. If we keep the latitude
scale constant the longitude scale must reduce as latitude increases.
?? Think about it and then check with the plotting sheet. You will find that the longitude scale
changes with latitude and that there is a graph spanning latitude 0 to latitude 70. Make sure you can
spot this and also that you can identify how the longitude is made up from 5 blocks of 10 of
longitude marked (confusingly) from 0 to 50 plus one more finely subdivided area with each line
spanning 2 and again marked from 0 to 10.
One of the more common errors is to set your dividers on 0 and 50 and then assume you have
measured a degree of longitude. YOU HAVE NOT!
?? What have you measured? 27
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Chapter 8 - Using the Sheet is Straightforward

?? Take a plotting sheet now and follow these steps to plot the example below.
The plotting sheet copies from page 27 onwards show you how the plot is built up.
We need to plot the following position line. CP is 49N 29W, Zn is 315 T and intercept is 15 miles
away.
?? Make sure you know what these terms mean if you have forgotten then go back to the
appropriate lectures and revise before proceeding.
Step 1 - Customise the sheet (page 27)

The objective is to decide on the latitude and longitude scales that are most appropriate for our plot
and annotate the plotting sheet.
1. Mark the LATITUDE in whole degrees and mark that against the central East - West line on the
plotting sheet.
We can now plot any latitude relative to this that fits on the sheet and page 27 shows you the
end result.
Remember that we do not have to plot our CP at the centre of the plotting sheet. We can
adjust the sheet to suit our needs and if our vessel were on a NW course we might well want
to plot our CP off centre to allow for her movement. This would be the case if, for example,
we plan to use a transferred position line (covered earlier).
2. Mark the LONGITUDE in whole degrees - usually we will use the centre of the sheet but, once
again, any point will do.
3. Identify the longitude scale to use (on this course it will always be the one for 50 North or South
but dont be fooled; in real life it will often change during a long passage).
Step 2 - Plot the CP (page 28)

The technique we are using gives us an azimuth and intercept from the Chosen or Assumed Position.
?? Can you correct this statement? The CP always has a latitude and longitude which are
rounded to the nearest whole degree to make plotting easy. 28
1. Mark in the latitude and longitude for the CP.
2. In our case for simplicity we have a CP longitude as a whole number of degrees. Normally the
minutes of longitude will not be zero.
3. Page 28 shows you this stage with a CP of 49 00N, 29 00W.
Step 3 - Plot Zn (page 28)

Take another look at page 28. We have plotted our CP and the next step is to plot Zn. In our example
it is 315 and we have plotted it correctly.
Step 4 - Plot the position line (page 29)

1. We have an intercept of 15 miles AWAY. This means that we need to plot the position lines 15
miles from our CP and that it is 15 miles further from the observed bodys GP than the CP. In
other words it is AWAY from the GP so we extend our bearing line in the opposite direction.
Page 29 shows you this step.
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2. The intercept is 15 miles so we measure 15 miles or minutes of latitude USING THE
LATITUDE SCALE OF THE PLOTTING SHEET (This is the North - South centre line) and
mark it on the plot.
3. The final step is to mark in our position line. Page 29 shows you all the final steps.
Some hints and tips

The common problems that most people have with a plotting sheet revolve around the scale of the
sheet and the confusing number of lines. Here are some hints.
1.
The intercept may be a very short line on the plotting sheet so use a sharpened pencil and
work accurately.
1.1.
2.
3.
If you have access to an enlarging copier you can expand the plotting sheet.
One position line does not make a position so we are going to end up with a confusing plot.
The example overleaf shows you a convention that will help:
2.1.
MARK each CP with a label (Sun 09:00, Moon 1, Polaris etc)
2.2.
Plot the Zn as a dotted or dashed line to differentiate it from the position line. In the
example on page 30 theres a plot of the sun t 09:00 with an azimuth of roughly
210T and an intercept of 70 miles AWAY.
2.3.
Mark the position line as shown in the picture. The arrows on the position line point
to the observed bodys GP.
On a voyage you can expect to be working in a particular hemisphere and with an East or
West longitude.
In this course you could be working with any combination. Before you plot anything do please
stop and think!
For example - Latitude in the Southern hemisphere increases in a Southerly direction!
This is one of the most common plotting errors.
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Page 22 of 36
Chapter 9 - Plotting a Position

Sun sights
The sun is available to be used throughout the day and so it is particularly convenient. It is common
practice to take a sun sight, wait for a few hours and take another. This is in contrast to a set of star
sights which are taken, to all intents and purposes, at one time (morning just before the sun rises or in
the evening just after it sets). Sun sights demand a different plotting technique called a running fix
and it is described below.
Star sights
We will have a number of sights taken at roughly the same time. At yacht speeds we will make no
significant error by plotting a set of sights taken over a period of several minutes as though they had
been taken simultaneously.
Because the set of sights will use a number of observed bodies it is almost certain that each will have
its own CP, Zn and intercept.
Repeat the process for each observation and our position is where the group of position lines. Theres
likely to be a cocked hat and the usual rules apply but with an added twist. It will not usually be
possible to nip up on deck and retake the sights. Fortunately in mid ocean even quite a big cocked
hat will usually be acceptable and a twelve hour wait till the next star sight window will not cause
too many problems.
Transferring a position line

We could well have a position line from a morning sight, a latitude and, in an ideal world, a position
line from an afternoon or evening sight.
We need a technique to allow us to use all three position lines (remember that a Latitude is no more
than an East - West position line) to establish the vessels position and the running fix is the
technique to use. ?? If you know how to plot a running fix you can skip the next section.
We are making assumptions about our vessels speed and course and any ocean current that may be
present (though that is ignored in this course). We can make a good stab at the first two.
?? Can you think of a way, on passage, to establish the current?29
Running Fixes
Lets start with the technique in
general and familiar terms by thinking
about coastal navigation. Well look at a
couple of ocean points later on.
Figure 13 shows the basic approach. The
technique is summarised in Figure 14 and
Figure 15.
A running fix starts like any other with a
position line. It is absolutely vital to note
the time and log reading as well as the
bearing.
Plot the first position line. It is then
necessary to wait until the position has
Sun Sights
Tiller School 2006
The assumed EP is a
standard EP taking full
account of tidal drift
and leeway.
Running fix
Chosen object
220oM
First position
line
Assumed
EP
Tower.
09:30, log 163
11:00, log 170
Second position
line
Transferred line
(mark with a double arrow)
passing through assumed EP
Figure 13 - The running fix
Page 23 of 36

changed significantly. The rules on 'angle of cut' apply to this type of fix and ideally the bearing
needs to change by at least 45 (three hours in astro terms) and preferably more.
Once the required change of angle has occurred another bearing is taken, time and log reading noted
and the second position line plotted. It's now time to do some more chartwork.
The concept is that we are going to move the

first position line by the DISTANCE and
GROUND TRACK that the boat has moved
between taking the two bearings of the object
on shore. If we can do this successfully then the
boat's position is where the two position lines
cross. It is not difficult in principle though
practical problems can affect the accuracy.
?? If we move the first position line in the
way described above what plot do we
need?30
Running Fix (1)

Identify object
z Take bearing
z
Note time and log

Plot it
Continue on passage
z When bearing has changed significantly
z Get new position line
z
You probably got the answer - we need to work

out the boat's EP and to take as full an account Figure 14 - The running fix (1)
as we can of the actual course steered, the
leeway and tidal streams.
There's a problem though - an EP needs a
starting point and we don't have one. It
doesn't matter because we have a position line
and, by definition, our boat must lie somewhere
along that line.
So we pick any point on the line and work out
our 'assumed EP' as accurately as possible from
the start point we have selected.
Running fix (2)

z
From any point on the original position

line
Assess EP - distance, direction and tide
Move position line to EP
Plot with double arrows
Fix is where moved line and second

line cross
z KEY IS ACCURATE EP
z
All that remains is to transfer the first position

line so that it runs through the 'assumed EP'.
The boat's position is fixed where the two
position lines actually cross. Remember to
Figure 15 - The running fix (2)
identify the transferred line with a double arrow
and that's 'all there is to it'!
Astro navigation implications:

This technique used to be used for coastal navigation and is the one we have to employ for astro
navigation. Heres a set of questions and answers that should help you.
1. Where do we start? Plot the first CP, intercept and azimuth in the normal way
2. What starting position do we use for transferring the position line? Any point on the first
position line will do.
3. How far and in what direction do we transfer the line? By the distance covered between
the first sight and the second in the direction the ship was heading. Apply any ocean current
drift if it is significant (in this course it is ignored).
4. What about a third position line? Move the first two in the distance and direction the
vessel travelled between the second and third sights.
5. Are there any timing implications? Yes, the normal rules apply on angle of cut so we need
to time the sights to allow for this. ?? For example a morning sun sight at 08:00
transferred to a noon sight (latitude) will give an angle of cut of what?31
Sun Sights
Tiller School 2006
Page 24 of 36

6. How accurate is this procedure likely to be? In the real world we would expect, and will
usually find, that the plot results in a cocked hat which may well span several miles. This
would be quite acceptable in mid-ocean and the error will be of little consequence.
7. Do I place my first CP somewhere close to the centre of the plotting sheet? For a set of
star sights this would normally be the best technique. If you plan to transfer a position line
you may wish to offset the first fix to one side of the plotting sheet to try to get everything on
one sheet. Incidentally you work out which side of the sheet to start by remembering which
way the vessel is moving!
?? If you would like some practice now then try these:
Here are some important reminders:
1. The plotting sheet scale is small - use a sharp pencil and be as accurate as possible when
plotting bearings and measuring distances
2. Use the correct LONGITUDE scale on the plotting sheet.
3. Label each CP and use the correct chart annotations - even if you do not get lost we probably
will if there is a mistake in your coursework!
1. EP is 490 47N 150 02W. Observations were made of the sun and moon at the same time
(near enough). Plot the position if: 32
Sun CP 500 N 150 18.3 W Intercept 7 towards 1980T
Moon CP 500 N 140 56.4W Intercept 13 towards 1260T
2. EP 500 11N 070 19W. Following stars were observed. Plot the position if:33
Polaris latitude 500 07.8N
Mirfak; Intercept 3.9 away from 0390T through the EP
Arcturus; Intercept 1.9 towards 2760 T through EP
Kochab; intercept 2.6 away from 3350 T through the EP
The next step is to work on, complete and submit RYA Exercise 6.
Then return to the lecture on Sun Sights at the chapter on Sun Run Sun.
At long last we can combine all our hard won knowledge and start to work out AND PLOT a
position; useful navigation at last.
Sun Sights
Tiller School 2006
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Chapter 10 - Plotting Sheet Worked Examples
Sun Sights
Tiller School 2006
Page 26 of 36
50 N
1 degree of
longitude.
30 W
Sun Sights
Tiller School 2006
Page 27 of 36
50 N
CP is 49 N 29 W
Zn is 315 T
1 degree of
longitude.
30 W
Sun Sights
Tiller School 2006
Page 28 of 36
50 N
Intercept is 15
miles AWAY so
extend the line in
the reciprocal of
315 T
Measure 15 miles
on the latitude
scale, mark the
point and draw a
position line at
90 degrees to Zn.
Sun Sights
Tiller School 2006
Page 29 of 36
Sun
09:00
Sun Sights
Tiller School 2006
Page 30 of 36
Chapter 11 - Sun - Run - Sun

We are all familiar with the concept that the sun rises in the East and sets in the West. In the Northern
hemisphere it runs to the south of us during the day. The opposite applies in the Southern hemisphere
and the sun passes north of the observer.
This gives us a useful and powerful navigational technique. The sun - broadly speaking - is going to
move in a 180 arc during the day although the actual angle depends on the latitude and the sun's
declination (i.e. the time of year). If our boat were motionless in the water with no current affecting
her movement we could establish her position with two or three sun sights.
Suppose we took two sun sights with six hours between them. The two position lines would be at 90
to each other (remember that the sun 'moves' at 15 per hour) and we would end up with a fix. Add a
noon latitude sight and we end up with a pretty good fix. We could improve it a bit if we made the
interval between the sights four hours - provided that the sun were visible - to give an optimum angle
of cut with three position lines.
This is an invaluable concept. It is not particularly time sensitive and provided that we can get
reliable sun sights separated by several hours we will get a fix - it may not be optimal in the sense of
its angle of cut - but in mid ocean there will always be another chance tomorrow.
The Sun - Run - Sun fix takes this principle one step further by allowing for the vessel's movement.
?? Summarise briefly the technique for transferring a position line. If you cannot remember
then it is time to revise the running fix we covered when learning about plotting.34
?? Take the example above - try extending that sun sight. Assume a meridian passage latitude
of 50 11.1N on the same day with a ships course of 085T and speed of 4.5 knots and find
your position.
?? Theres an optional exercise in Chapter 13 to help you remember the theory and put it into
context.
Sun Sights
Tiller School 2006
Page 31 of 36
Chapter 12 - Transferred Position Lines and EPs

In the examples used by the RYA course material, the sun-run-sun sights all use pairs of sights on the
same day, and with modest distances run between them.
Bear in mind that, in real life, you might have been waiting several days for the sun to appear through
the clouds for a second time. Alternatively you may be on a very fast vessel and have covered a great
distance between sights (one reason why the plotting sheets are so big).
In this case you would not think of using the Estimated Position relevant to the first sight to establish
the LHA for reducing the second sight. Why should you then, when the distance is not great. Take
this opportunity to become familiar with the correct practice.
A logical procedure to follow is to plot the first EP (EP1) on your plotting sheet when you plot your
first Position Line. On the assumption that your work is accurate, you now know that you are on this
PL somewhere, so it makes sense to improve your EP to the closest point on the PL since, in this
dimension at least, your position is no longer an estimate.
From this improved EP you can draw your Dead Reckoning run, the far end of which will be your
new EP (EP2), which you will use to establish the LHA and Chosen Position for the reduction of
your second sight, as well as being the point through which your transferred PL will now run,
parallel to your initial PL.
Now complete and submit RYA Exercise 7

then move on to Using The Stars.
Important Exercise 7 reminder!
There are two types of sun sight. Weve just been studying one; dont forget the other!
?? What type of sight reduction should we use for a noon sight?35
Sun Sights
Tiller School 2006
Page 32 of 36
Chapter 13 - Can You Help Fred?

This is an optional exercise. We'll happily mark your answers for you.
Fred (thats not his real name of course) set sail from Falmouth (300 miles West of Greenwich for
practical purposes). He is now in his fifth day of the passage and has enjoyed a SW wind dead on
the nose for the whole time. He has been struggling to make a heading (roughly) of West en route for
the Azores. Not good news!
His problems started when his electronics packed up, lock, stock and barrel early on the second day.
They are still dead, and so will Fred, unless he can sort himself out. A large fish ate his trailing log
impeller during the second night so hes back to throwing bits of wood into the water and timing
their passage. Hes guessing 4 knots, based on past experience or 100 miles per day.
He dug his trusty (but unused) sextant out and discovered to his amazement that although he had
brought the Nautical Almanac and the AP3270 books he had forgotten all his Ocean theory notes and
the textbook. Never a man to give up he decided that since he was beyond VHF range he had better
re-learn his astro.
After a horrendous night - rough weather and a guilty conscience had left him with nightmares about
time zones, hour angles, declinations and the like - he decided to write down his problems and then
start puzzling things out.
1.
Here are a few of the things that he was confused about - please enlighten him.
1.1.
1.2.
1.3.
1.4.
First Point of Aries has something to do with ....

If FPA is 283 17.1 and SHA of a star is 183 51.9 what is the GHA of the star?
1.2.1. If my longitude is 7 31.8W what is the LHA?
1.2.2. If my longitude is 135 15.8E what is its LHA?
Do we need the GHA of a body to know its declination?
The GP (which means ....?) is defined by what?
2.
He was puzzled to find that his first attempt at a midday sun sight (more commonly called a
................ ?) was a failure. He nipped up on deck when he was five days out (5 days of
b***** SW Winds in June he snorted) and at midday on his watch was staggered to find that
the sun was rising / falling? Can you explain this and help him work out the right time for
the sight? Mer Pass for the day was given as 12:02 so surely that should have been the sight
time? He had worked out that the distance represented by one minute of latitude was roughly
1.5 minutes of longitude at his latitude but then got stuck!
3.
The following day - June 21st he managed to get a midday sun sight. The result was as
follows:
3.1.
3.2.
4.
SA 58 37.3. IE -25.0 Height of eye was 7 ft. What was his latitude?
If the time of the sight on his watch was 14h 13m 12s and his watch was 7 seconds
fast (according to Radio 4 which he could still just receive) can you give him
guidance on a suitable EP for his afternoon sun sight that same day?
3.3.
How long after local midday would be a good time to plan for a sun sight?
As a matter of interest - Freds brain was beginning to work again now he had some idea of
his position - he remembered something about Greenwich Date. Should he be worried when
taking sun sights in his current position?
Sun Sights
Tiller School 2006
Page 33 of 36
Chapter 14 - Answers
1
Your answers should be on these lines:

1.
The world is divided into 24 time zones numbered from 0 (zero) to -12 in an Easterly direction and 0 to +12 in a
Westerly direction. Time zone 0 is centred on the Prime or Greenwich Meridian.
2.
22:00 in Z + 10 means that we add 10 hours to get UT so it will be 08:00. We will have to change the Greenwich
Date (GD) to 1st December.
3.
Sextant Angle (SA) is converted to Apparent Altitude (AA) by removing the effects of the observers height of eye
(DIP) and the mechanical Index Error (IE) of the sextant. This applies to all observations. The tables allow us to
apply all the further body specific corrections in one, or at most two or three, steps.
4.
The Zenith of any body is defined as the line running from the centre of the earth through the body concerned. The
Zenith Distance (ZD) is the ANGULAR distance between the Zeniths of two bodies. It is not a physical distance
measured in miles.
The Meridian Passage sight gives us our latitude but not, directly, our longitude unless we know the time very accurately.
It means that we are SOMEWHERE along the Parallel of Latitude and all we can say with some certainty is that we are
not on land (assuming the sight was taken from a boat) and we know which ocean we are in. That still leaves an awful lot
of uncertainty! Mer Pass is a specialised and simple example of using a sight to obtain a position line.
Your answers should on these lines:

1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 are all true. 4 is incomplete and a truer statement would be GHA of a body minus LHA of the same
body always equals the observers longitude. If the answer is negative then the NAME (East or West) of the longitude
will be E and, if positive, it will be W. Dont forget that hour angles are always measured in a Westerly or clockwise
direction whereas longitude is measured E or W of the Greenwich Meridian.
The date does not change. In other words a day is lost across the date line and gained as midnight passes.
Mer. Pass is the time at which an observer will see the body reach its highest angle and just begin to fall. It marks the
point at which the body being observed crosses the observers meridian (of longitude).
YES. FPA has a GHA so we can find its longitude from the tables (page 12 of RYA booklet).
Your answers should be:
Subtract a WEST longitude from GHA to get LHA or ADD an Easterly longitude to get LHA.
10
GHA sun = 130.

With longitude 30W the LHA is 100.
With longitude 40E the LHA is 170.
Longitude with GHA 130 and LHA 100 is 30W.
Star's hour angle is 270.
Longitude is 045W and LHA star is 225.
11
Declination is the astro equivalent of latitude. It is the angle of the body relative to the celestial equator.
SHA is the 'longitude' of a star - it is measured relative to a reference point called the First Point of Aries.
SHA of 120E is invalid.
SHA is always measured clockwise and in this case it should be 240.
Sun's GHA.
At 15:00 = 045.
At 09:00 = 315.
Local noon is 16:45 GMT so Longitude is 71 15' W.

Sun's GHA is 71 15' and LHA is 0.
Star's LHA is 132 33'.7 + 73 04'.1 - 15 0' = 190 37'.8.
30 37'.8 - i.e. subtract 360 from an angle that is > 360.
By observing the sun when it crosses the observers meridian, calculating the Zenith Distance and modifying it to take
account of the suns declination.
Sun Sights
Tiller School 2006
Page 34 of 36
12
Broadly speaking it rises in the East and sets in the West. Theres an excerpt from the relevant table on RYA page 25
which gives us the bearing of the sun at various declinations and we can use this information (Lecture 9) to help us check
the ships compass for deviation when on passage.
13
60 degrees because we are making the observations at 4 hourly intervals and one hour equals 15 degrees.
14
Actual LHA is 2350 43 - 150 01 or 220 42. Chosen longitude should be 140 43 and LHA 2210. If we had chosen a
longitude of 150 43 the resultant LHA would have been 2200 and chosen longitude 150 43. Clearly this is further from the
actual DR Long than 140 43.
15
GHA
DR Long
93 45
86 15
284 45
286 11
21 34W
2250W
33 18E
4310E
16
LHA for AP
tables
72
63
318
329
Chosen Longitude
21 45W
23 15W
33 15E
42 49E
Using the Increments and Corrections tables on pages 21 23 the answers are:
Date
Time - UT
GHA sun
DR Long
LHA for AP tables
Chosen
Longitude
21 June 1980
11h 34m 5s
232
353 5.3
121 23W
121 5.3W
25 Feb. 1980
13h 28m 10s
352
18 44.3
26 36W
26 44.3W
22 Sept. 1980
09h 31m 43s
344
324 45.8
19 41E
19 14.2E
Note: If you used the conversion of arc to time table you will have introduced some minor errors. You must use the right
table.
17
No, we need to know the value and name of the declination of the observed body at the time of the sight.
18
Because the latitude and declination both have the same name - North.
19
Hc 34 18, d +48, Z = 115.
20
The calculated altitude is for a declination of 12. Our declination is, and this is the norm, not a whole number of
degrees; once again we have to interpolate. The azimuth can be named either East or West and the tables cater for both.
There are simple rules that we follow to obtain the correct value.
21
35 06 minus 34 18 is 48 minutes and this is the value of d. d is telling us that HC is increasing (+) by 48 minutes of
arc for a change in declination of one degree.
22
From tables:
Hc = 30 32', d = +48, Z = 111.
d corrn = 33 so Hc = 31 05.
LHA is 055 so Zn = 360 - 111 = 249T - see formula at top of page for Northern hemisphere.
23
ZX is part of a great circle and by definition one minute of arc equals one nautical mile.
24
Your answer should be:

TA
54 42.6.
Ships time
22nd 10h 30m.
LHA
330, Chosen Long. 6 47'.7W and chosen Lat. 50 N.
Declination
23 26.1N.
Intercept 4.6 towards Zn = 128 T. When you start plotting you will see why we would round this answer to 5.
25
This statement is true.
26
It means that if we had a set of charts covering the same range of longitude (20 degrees, lets say) but differing latitude
ranges the WIDTH of the charts would vary with the widest charts being at the equator where a minute of longitude also
equals nautical mile.
27
50 minutes of longitude.
Sun Sights
Tiller School 2006
Page 35 of 36
28
The CP is always rounded to the nearest latitude in whole degrees. The longitude is calculated to give an LHA in whole
degrees.
29
It should be possible by star fixes to establish our ground position over, say, 24 hours (e.g. take sights on successive
mornings or evenings) and an EP. Given reasonably accurate water speed / distance instruments the difference is likely
to be the prevailing ocean current rate and set. Passage planning books and routeing charts also give information about
ocean currents and the rates and sets that can be expected.
30
This is a way of defining the boat's EP. If you think about it for a moment the EP is exactly this - the boat's water track
modified by her leeway and any tidal streams.
31
4 hours at 15 degrees gives an acceptable angle of cut of 60 degrees.
32
49 46 N 14 46 W
33
50 07N 07 21 W
34
All we do is to move the first (morning) position line by the distance and direction that the boat has moved and cross it
with the noon sight. We could then transfer both lines to the afternoon sight's position line to give a three position line fix.
In practice we can mix and match position lines so that a depth sounding or a single bearing of land or the position lines
from any other astro sight can all be used to establish a position.
35
Meridian Passage sight to calculate a latitude.
Sun Sights
Tiller School 2006
Page 36 of 36

Sun Sights and Plotting

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RYA Yachtmaster Ocean

Sun Sights and Plotting

RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Theory Course

Sun Sights and Plotting

Working on this topic

RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Theory Course

Finding your way around this lecture

RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Theory Course

Chapter 1 - More on the Theory

Once we know the GP of a

We need a bit more theory

RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Theory Course

RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Theory Course

Chapter 2 - Greenwich Hour Angle and Longitude

The Prime Meridian is an

Longitude is measured to the East or West of the

This picture introduces a new format to you. We

?? Incidentally can you remember what

Astro Longitude - the GHA

Strictly speaking the Equation of Time is the excess of

Astronomical longitude is very similar to longitude but

RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Theory Course

In Figure 2 a GHA for the body of 110 is

Handling the stars

There is just one difference with the stars. You

There is a reference point for stars (Figure 4)

First Point of Aries

We can measure the angle from FPA to any

?? Check this on page 12 of the RYA booklet

RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Theory Course

Sidereal Hour Angle

?? Do we know where FPA is at any time?6

The position of a heavenly body

Greenwich Hour Angle = Longitude

RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Theory Course

Local Hour Angle

Finding the sun

and GHA are tabulated in

Figure 9 - finding the sun

Local Hour Angle

RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Theory Course

Local Hour Angle

angle measured westwards between

LHA body = GHA body -West

We now have two hour angles (Figure 12).

Local Hour Angle

Greenwich Hour Angle

Sidereal Hour Angle

?? Try the exercise below before we move on.10

RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Theory Course

Chapter 3 - Using the Sun at Any Time of Day

The suns bearing changes during

The suns azimuth

During its passage from sunrise to

This drawing applies to the N hemisphere

Position lines from the sun

This drawing applies to the N hemisphere

RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Theory Course

RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Theory Course

Chapter 4 - Calculated Altitude the Basics

General principles - a reminder

Solving the problem

They permit us to plan sights as well as reduce them.

Introducing the AP tables