NavList:

I've been taking a lunar distance method approach to analysing the 08APR2024 eclipse; and doing so as if I was standing on Eclipse Island (lat 47° 36.4'N, lng ???) where James Cook observed an eclipse in 1766.  Several Navlisters may recall my previous posts on this. Upon applying the lunar method, I eventually (and without any reference to UT) arrived at a cleared LD of 23.3' based on the attached screenshot from Stellarium showing the beginning of the eclipse.  I then took the cleared LD of 23.3' and consulted Frank's Lunar Distance Almanac to find a corresponding 'time at Greewich' for the start of the eclipse.  I encountered the following:

17:00:00   0° 49.9'

18:00:00   0° 23.2'

19:00:00   0° 32.6'

My carefully calculated (and hopefully correct) LD of 23.3' is contained in both intervals!!    And there is absolutely nothing wrong with the almanac. 

Here's a puzzle that I hope will engage lunarian Navlisters.  It has two parts: (1) where are the two LDs, and (2) which one (if any) should be used to determine longitude and, most importantly, why.  Assume you're James Cook in that you do not know the correct longitude.  In other words you must not choose a UT using the known longitude as the criterion for selecting the right UT (if indeed there is a 'right' UT).

Cheers,

Jim.

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