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A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: Latitude From Two Star Altitudes Only
From: Lars Bergman
Date: 2026 Apr 21, 06:04 -0700
From: Lars Bergman
Date: 2026 Apr 21, 06:04 -0700
Wendel Brunnel,
The difference in LHA between Capella and Pollux have to equal their difference in SHA. Thus your LHAP = 25.48° at the lower latitude cannot be correct, it indicates that Pollux is west of Capella. It should be -25.48°, or 334.52°.
The problem can be solved analytically, e.g. by calculating the distance between the stars and two angles.
Lars
