The

The Navigational
Navigational Triangle
Triangle

Pn

Zenith

Learning Objectives
Comprehend the interrelationships of the terrestrial,
celestial, and horizon coordinate systems in defining the
celestial and navigational triangles.
Gain a general knowledge of the celestial and navigational
triangles.
Applicable reading: Hobbs pp. 291-300.

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The
The Navigational
Navigational Triangle
Triangle

Pn

Zenith

The Celestial Triangle

For the purposes of celestial navigation, the terrestrial, celestial,
and horizon coordinate systems are combined on the celestial
sphere to form the astronomical or celestial triangle.
When the celestial triangle is related to the earth it becomes
the navigational triangle. The solution of which is the basis of
celestial navigation.
Each of the three coordinate systems examined in the celestial
navigation section of this course is used to form one of the
sides of the celestial triangle. As an illustration, consider the
celestial triangle depicted below:

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The
The Navigational
Navigational
Triangle
Triangle
Pn

Zenith

90 - Lat Zenith
Z

Eq
u

Celestial

iz
Ho r

on

rc
Ci
le

Verical

ur
Ho

Circle

in
o

ct i

al

90

-A
lt

90 - D ec

Pn

of

Bo

dy

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pp 290

The
The Navigational
Navigational Triangle
Triangle

Pn

Zenith

The three vertices of the triangle are

the celestial pole nearest the observer
the observers zenith
the position of the celestial body
The three sides of the triangle are
the side of the triangle connecting the celestial pole with
the observers zenith is a segment of a projected terrestrial
meridian
the side between the pole and the celestial body is a
segment of the hour circle of the body
the side of the triangle between the observers zenith and
the position of the body is a segment of a vertical circle of
the horizon system
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The
The Navigational
Navigational Triangle
Triangle

Pn

Zenith

The lengths of the sides of the celestial (later navigational)

triangle are of paramount importance.
The length of the side formed by the projected terrestrial
meridian between the north celestial pole, P n, and the
observers zenith expressed as an angle is 90 degrees
minus the observers latitude.
The length of the side concurrent with the hour circle of
the body is in this case 90o minus the declination, but if the
body were south of the equator, this length would be 90 o
plus the declination.
The length of the third side, which is measured along the
vertical circle from the observers zenith to the body, is
90o(the altitude of the zenith) minus the altitude of the
body.
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The
The Navigational
Navigational Triangle
Triangle

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Zenith

Only two angles within the celestial triangle are of concern in

celestial navigation:
Meridian Angle
The angle measured east or west from the observers
celestial meridian to the hour circle of the body.
It is the angle marked in the figure at the north
celestial pole.
The meridian angle bears a close relationship to the
local hour angle (LHA).
If the LHA is less than 180 degrees, the meridian
angle t is equal to the LHA, and is west. If the LHA is
greater than 180 degrees, the meridian angle is equal
to 360 degrees minus the LHA, and is east.
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The
The Navigational
Navigational Triangle
Triangle

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Zenith

Azimuth Angle (abbreviated Z)

The angle at the zenith between the projected celestial meridian of
the observer and the vertical circle passing through the body; it is
measured from 0o to 1800 either east or west of the observers
meridian.
It is important to distinguish this azimuth angle of the celestial
triangle from the true azimuth of the observed body, which, as
mentioned previously, can be likened to the true bearing of the
body from the observer. Azimuth in the latter sense is always
abbreviated Zn and with altitude forms the two horizon coordinates
by which a celestial body is located with respect to an observer on
the earths surface.
The third interior angle of the celestial triangle is called the parallactic
angle; it is not used in ordinary practice of celestial navigation.

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The
The Navigational
Navigational Triangle
Triangle

Pn

Zenith

The Navigational Triangle

In the determination of position by celestial navigation, the
celestial triangle must be solved to find a celestial line of
position through the observers position beneath their zenith
This is accomplished by the construction of a closely related
navigational triangle.
To form this triangle the observer is imagined to be located at
the center of the earth, and the earths surface is expanded
outward (or the celestial sphere compressed inward) until the
surface of the earth and the surface of the celestial sphere are
coincident.

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The
The Navigational
Navigational Triangle
Triangle

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Zenith

Geographic Position (GP)

After the earths surface has been expanded (or the
celestial sphere compressed), the position of the celestial
body being observed becomes a body on the earths
surface.
Every celestial body has a GP located on the earths
surface directly beneath it:

GP

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The
The Navigational
Navigational Triangle
Triangle

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Zenith

As the celestial sphere rotates about the earth, all

geographic positions of celestial bodies move from east
to west across the earths surface. The GP of the sun is
called the subsolar point, the GP of the moon is called
the sublunar point, and the GP of a star the substellar
point.
In every case, the diameter of the body is considered to
be compressed to a point on the celestial sphere, located
at the center of the body. The GP of the observed
celestial body forms one vertex of the navigational
triangle.

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The
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Navigational Triangle
Triangle

Pn

Zenith

Assumed Position (AP)

The observers position on earth is not known
Therfore, the zenith of the observer in the celestial
triangle becomes a hypothesized position of the
observer.
This assumed position, AP, is the second vertex of the
navigational triangle.

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The
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Navigational Triangle
Triangle

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Zenith

Elevated Pole, (abbreviated Pn or Ps)

The remaining vertex of the navigational triangle.
The elevated pole is the pole nearest the observers
assumed position
It is so named because it is the celestial pole above the
observers celestial horizon.
The assumed position of the observer and the elevated
pole are always on the same side of the celestial equator,
while the geographic position of the observed body may
be on either side.

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The
The Navigational
Navigational Triangle
Triangle

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Zenith

The three sides of the navigational triangle are called the

colatitude, coaltitude, and the polar distance:
The Colatitude
The side of the navigational triangle joining the
AP of the observer and the elevated pole.
Since the AP is always in the same hemisphere as
the elevated pole, the length of the colatitude is
always 90o (the latitude of the pole) minus the
latitude of the AP.

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The
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Navigational Triangle
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Zenith

The Coaltitude
The side of the navigational triangle joining the AP of the
observer and the Gp of the body.
Because the maximum possible altitude of any celestial body
relative to the observers celestial horizon is 90 o (the altitude of
his zenith) the length of the coaltitude is always 90 0 minus the
altitude of the body.
The Polar Distance
The side of the navigational triangle joining the elevated pole and
the GP of the body.
For a body in the same hemisphere, the length of the polar
distance is 900 minus the declination of the GP; for a body in an
opposite hemisphere, is length is 900 plus the declination of the
GP.
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The
The Navigational
Navigational Triangle
Triangle

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Zenith

The interior angles of the navigational triangle bear the same

names as the corresponding angles of the celestial triangle,
with only the
meridian angle
t at the elevated pole
azimuth angle, Z, at the AP of the observer
These angles are the ones of any consequence in the solution
of the triangle.

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The
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Navigational Triangle
Triangle

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Zenith
The meridian angle
measured from 0 to 180 degrees east or west from the observers
celestial meridian to the hour circle of the body and is labeled with
the suffix E (east) or W (west).
The azimuth angle
Always measured from the observers meridian toward the vertical
circle joining the observers AP and the GP of the body.
Since the angle between the observers meridian and the vertical
circle can never exceed 180o, the azimuth angle must always have a
value between 0o to 180o.
It is labeled with the prefix N(north) or S(south) to agree with the
elevated pole, and with the suffix E (east) or W (west) to indicate on
which side of the observers meridian the GP lies. The suffix of the
meridian angle and the azimuth angle Z will always be identical.

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The
The Navigational
Navigational Triangle
Triangle

Pn

Zenith

The azimuth angle must be converted to the true azimuth, or

bearing, of the GP of the body from the AP of the observer for use
in navigation.
As an example of this conversion process, consider the
navigational triangle shown below in which the south pole is the
elevated pole:

GP
Z
t
Ps

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AP

The
The Navigational
Navigational Triangle
Triangle

Pn

Zenith

The south pole is the elevated pole because the AP of the

observer is in the southern hemisphere.
At the time of the observation of the body, its GP has been
determined to be north of the equator and to the west of the
observer.
Thus the prefix for the azimuth angle, Z, is S (south), to
agree with the elevated pole, and the suffix is W (west),
identical with the suffix of the meridian angle.
Hence, if the size of the azimuth angle were 110 o,, the angle
would be written S1100W.

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The
The Navigational
Navigational Triangle
Triangle

Pn

Zenith

To convert this azimuth angle to a true azimuth, it is helpful

to draw a sketch of the directional relationships involved
Pn (000T)

AP
Z=S 110O W

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Zn = 290T

The
The Navigational
Navigational Triangle
Triangle

Pn

Zenith

From the figure, we can see that to convert the azimuth angle
S110oW to true azimuth, it is necessary only to add 180
degrees.
Thus the true azimuth or bearing of the GP from the AP is
case is 180+110=2900.
By solution of the appropriate triangle, navigators can determine
their position at sea, check compass accuracy, predict the rising
and setting of any celestial body, and locate and identify bodies of
interest.

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