NavList:

Carly,

No way would you be anywhere near the correct latitude except through crazy luck just picking a near by land feature as a horizon reference.  A mud puddle reflection of the Sun would have gotten you closer ;-) Lots of info on artificial horizons here in the archives. Heck ... a dish of water on a south facing kitchen window sill will get it done for an LAN right where you're at in Nova Scotia until north declination exceeds 16° north.

http://www.fer3.com/arc/sort2.aspx?subj=artificial+horizon&author=&y=200001&y2=201912

Greg Rudzinski

From: Carly Butler
Date: 2015 Apr 27, 07:33 -0600

 

Date was the solstice: December 21st.  And I was on the beach, not on a
boat - sorry, forgot to mention both important pieces of information.  I
knew I should have an artificial horizon, but I actually thought  it
wasn't that important (!) and that I could get an approximate location
that wouldn't be so far off.

(I'm actually reading the thread about creating my own artificial
horizon with a mirror in a bucket with great interest - that probably
would have helped me a lot.  At the time I thought 'oh well, I don't
have any mercury but it will be fine…)

Will have to look up what time it was exactly…something close to noon,
Sisal time, but I will check…

Thanks!

Carly