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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: Wendel Brunner
Date: 2026 Apr 26, 13:23 -0700
From: Wendel Brunner
Date: 2026 Apr 26, 13:23 -0700
Lars - Again thank you for your comment. With your hint about the distance between the two stars, I see that the triangle CPS formed by Capella (C), Pollux (P) and the Solution (S) is determined by the three known values of the sides, and so its angles can all be calculated as well. Likewise triangle C, P, and Pole is determined. That allows triangle P, S and Pole to be calculated and thus the latitude of S. No need for iteration for a solution.
