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A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
From: Bill Ritchie
Date: 2025 Feb 1, 13:39 -0800
David, I will also follow Frank's use of local time.
I'm presently near Tauranga, not too far from you, near S37° 40.0' E176 00.0. For this position on Feb 1st my source gives ...
Sun: Mer Pass 13:29:31, Hc 69° 25.0′
Moon: Mer Pass 15:41:56, Hc 58° 35.4′ Phase 9%
Venus: Mer Pass 16:17:32, Hc 51° 30.5′
Obviously not the opportunity to which Frank refers. Using 2nd Feb, all falls into place, with a rapidly increasing geocentric lunar distance of 003° 26.8′ at Meridian Passage.
Moon: Mer Pass 16:30:20, Hc 51° 30.5′ Phase 16%
Venus: Mer Pass 16:16:14, Hc 51° 03.6′
Have another try this afternoon, David. I think your proposed Moon Meridian sight (Upper Limb) will be difficult with a phase of only 16%. Also, the Moon's Dec is becoming more Northerly at 17.2'/hour, so there will be a big correction for that. Good luck with those stubborn white clouds.
Bill.
