Module :

Topic 10:

Principles of Navigation
Azimuth of Body

MA0539

Objective:
1.

Calculate the Azimuth of the Body.

Azimuth
The azimuth of a body is the angle at the observers zenith between the observer's meridian and
the vertical circle passing through the body; PZX in figure below.
In other words, it is the true bearing and a navigator needs to know the true bearing of a celestial
body for two reasons; to be able to calculate the error and deviation of the ship's compass and to
be able to plot celestial position lines.

d1

d
W

S
When the Observer is in the Northern hemisphere,
NESW represents the rational horizon
P the elevated pole
Z the zenith
X the body
WQE the equinoctial
WZE the prime vertical
PZ the co-latitude
ZQ the latitude
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Module :
Topic 10:

Principles of Navigation
Azimuth of Body

MA0539

dd1' the declination

PX polar distance
ZX the zenith distance
XH the true altitude
ZPX the hour angle
PZX the true azimuth
When the Observer is in the Southern Hemisphere,

S
Procedure for calculating the azimuth of a body
(i)
Obtain the compass bearing of the body and note the Greenwich date and time.
(ii)
Enter the Nautical almanac with the GMT and obtain the GHA and declination.
(iii)
Apply Longitude to calculate the LHA.

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Module :
Topic 10:

Principles of Navigation
Azimuth of Body

MA0539

In the pole-body-zenith spherical triangle (PZX) it is possible to calculate the azimuth angle
PZX, providing two sides and an included angle are known. If Greenwich time is observed
upon taking a compass bearing of a body, then figures for an accurate local hour angle and the
declination of the body can be extracted from the Nautical Almanac. The declination is then
either added or subtracted from 90 degrees to give the co-declination, or polar distance side of
the triangle. DR latitude, when subtracted from 90 degrees will provide the other side of the
triangle, co-lat, and the angle between these two sides will be the L.H.A.
Thus, a comparison of the true and compass azimuths of a certain body will yield the com pass
error at any instant. This method of determining compass error should be regularly prac ticed
and carried out after each alteration of course if possible.
ABC Method
Azimuth Example - 1
Latitude
Given Local Hour Angle (LHA)
Declination

55N
050
17N

Compass bearing 2500C

Variation 30E

By Calculation:
A

Tan Lat / Tan LHA

Tan 55 / Tan 050
1.1984S

(Named OPPOSITE to LAT unless LHA is between 90-270)

Tan Decl / Sin LHA

Tan 17 / Sin 050
0.3991 N

(Named SAME as DECL)

A +/- B

A-B (DIFF NAMES SUBTRACT)

A+B (SAME NAMES ADD)

1.1984 S - 0.3991 N = 0.7993 S

Az

Tan-1 (1 / [C x Cos Lat])

Tan-1 2.1812

Therefore AZIMUTH (True Bearing)

Compass bearing
Compass error
Deviation

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=
=
=
=
=

S 65.4 W
245.4 T
250C
4.6W
Variation = 3E
7.6W

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Module :
Topic 10:

Principles of Navigation
Azimuth of Body

MA0539

Azimuth Example - 2
Latitude
Given Local Hour Angle (LHA)
Declination

25S
326
37N

By Calculation:
A

Tan Lat / Tan LHA

Tan 25 / Tan 326
0.6913 N

(Named OPPOSITE to LAT unless LHA is between 90-270)

Tan Decl / Sin LHA

Tan 37 / Sin 326
1.3476 N

(Named SAME as DECL)

A Diff B

I.E.

A-B (DIFF NAMES SUBTRACT)

A+B (SAME NAMES ADD)

0.6913 N + 1.3476 N = 2.0389 N

Az

Tan-1 (1 / [C x Cos Lat])

Tan-1 0.5412 N

Therefore AZIMUTH (True Bearing)

=
N 28.4 E
=
028.4 T
The rules for the naming A, B and the Azimuth are contained therein. A is named opposite to the
latitude except when the value of LHA lies between 90 and 270. In this case A is named north.
B is always named the same as the declination, in this case, north. When A and B are of the same
names, C is the sum and when A and B are of different names, C is the difference and is named
the same as the greater of the two.
Azimuth is named the same as C and West if the body is setting and East if the body is
rising. LHA below 1800 is setting and LHA above 1800 is rising.

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