NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
From: Antoine Couëtte
Date: 2025 Feb 19, 10:19 -0800
In further reference to :
including ref RG1 : 156889.open.cpn.altitude.calculation.error.pdf.pdf
and :
Andrés Ruiz' subsequent reply,
including ref AR1 : https://navlist.net/img/156889.sun.recalt.out , and
including ref AR2 : https://navlist.net/img/156889.venus.recalt.out, and
including ref AR3 : https://navlist.net/img/156889.regulus.recalt.out
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Dear Gentlemen,
I have performed a careful review of both your contributions.
I have worked all these examples through the Nautical Almanac and through own software, where both methods used here yield similar results to within +/- 0.1'
I would then offer the following results for your review and investigation :
(1) - Sun LL sight (References RG1 and AR1 listed hereabove)
Computation with the Nautical Almanac
Nov 13th, 2024 , UT=20h17m45s, 15°C, 1013mb, HoE=2.4 m N45°00.0'/W076°00.0'
Once corrected for Index Error, SUNL Hs = 11°21.8'
Dip Correction = -2.8'
For 11°19.0' , Refraction + Parallax + SD correction (OCT. - MAR.) = +11.6'
Xtra T and P correction (H column) = +0.1'
Total corrections : -2.8' + 11.6' + 0.1' = +8.9' . Hence Ho = 11°30.7'
Nautical Almanac data for observation UT give : GHA = 128°20.5' and Dec = S 18°15.2' .
Altogether with LHA = 052°20.5' and Lat N45°00.0' , solving the triangle yields :
Hc = 10°52.9' Zc = 229.96°
Hence Intercept "Ho - Hc" = +37.8' , i.e. 37.8 NM towards the Sun in Azimuth 230.0°
Significant difference with Andrés' results (Intercept at +44.2', Az 230° ), and
Most significant difference with Open CPN (Intercept at -7.4 NM / 228.94°)
(2) - Venus sight (References RG1 and AR2 listed hereabove)
Computation with the Nautical Almanac
Dec 28th, 2024 , UT=22h45m10s, 13°C, 1013mb, HoE=4.9 m N17°56.6'/W076°45.5'
Once corrected for Index Error, VENUS Hs = 42°18.9'
Dip Correction : -3.9'
For 42°15.0', Refraction = -1.1'
Xtra Parallax Correction = + 0.2'
Xtra T and P correction (G column) : +0.0'
Total corrections : -3.9' - 1.1' + 0.2' = -4.8' . Hence Ho = 42°14.1'
Nautical Almanac data for observation UT give : GHA = 111°55.0' and Dec = S 14°53.9' .
Altogether with LHA = 35°09.5' and LAT = N17°56.6' , solving the triangle yields :
Hc = 42°15.4' Zc = 228.751°
Hence Intercept "Ho - Hc" = -1.3' , i.e. 1.3 NM away from Venus in Azimuth 228.8°
Small difference with Andrés' results (Intercept at -0.4' / Az 228.8°) . I perform the phase correction for Venus, which is significant here. The NAL performs it too. Maybe an explanation for this small difference, Andrés ?
I cannot conclude from comparison with Open CPN since the RG1 published results for Venus seem inconsistent (typos ?)
(3) - Regulus sight (References RG1 and AR3 listed hereabove)
Computation with the Nautical Almanac
Jul 04th, 2025 , UT=20h39m23s, 9°C, 1013mb, HoE=4.9 m N31°54.372'/W014°55.35'
Once corrected for Index Error, REGULUS Hs = 26°58.3'
(hint ! RG1 first height at 28° seems a typo)
Dip Correction : -3.9'
For 26°54.4', Refraction = -1.9'
Xtra T and P correction (G column) : +0.0'
Total corrections : -3.9' - 1.9' = -5.8' . Hence Ho = 26°52.5'
Nautical Almanac data for observation UT give : GHA = 080°31.4' and Dec = N 11°50.6' .
Altogether with LHA = 65°36.1' and LAT = N31°54.372' , solving the triangle yields :
Hc = 26°51.1' Zc = 267.466°
Hence Intercept "Ho - Hc" = +1.4' , i.e. 1.4 NM towards Regulus in Azimuth 267.5°
Small difference with Andrés' results (Intercept at +2.4' / Az 267.5°)
Significant difference with Open CPN (Intercept at +7.7 NM / Az 267.6°)
*******
Hope it helps, and hopefully with no typos on my behalf,
Antoine M. "Kermit" Couette
For any subsequent contact : antoine.m.couette[at]club-internet.fr






