Astronomical Triangle

I. Introduction
Astronomical Triangle is a triangle on the celestial sphere whose
vertices are the pole, the zenith, and the observed body.
II. Discussion
The spherical triangle PZM whose vertices are the celestial pole, † the
zenith, and the projection of a heavenly body on the celestial sphere, is called the
Astronomical Triangle.
ZM = colatitude
MP = codeclination
PZ = colatitude
Where the prefix “co” obviously denotes “compliment of”. Moreover,
P = hour angle
Z = 180° - azimuth
The angle M is of no special interest.
If any three of the other five parts are known, the remaining two can be
found. Thus, if an observer knows his latitude, and measures the altitude and the
azimuth of the sun, he can find PZ, ZM, and Z. From these he can compute the
hour angle P. this would give the local apparent time.
We can solve the astronomical triangle problem by using the formulas of
the six cases.
Example:
An observation taken in St. Louis (latitude 38°38’ N) showed the altitude of
the sun to be 30°30’. Its declination was found to be 10°20’ N. What was the time
of the day?

m = colatitude = 90° - 38° 38’ = 51° 22’

p = colatitude = 90° - 30° 30’ = 59° 30’

z = codeclination = 90° - 10° 20’ = 79°40’

Since only one angle is required, we use this formula from case 1.
1
𝑠 = 2 (𝑚 + 𝑝 + 𝑧)
 1 sin(𝑠 − 𝑚) sin(𝑠 − 𝑧)
tan 𝑃 = √
2 sin(𝑠) sin(𝑠 − 𝑝)

Thus,
1
𝑠 = 2 (51° 22’ + 59° 30’ + 79°40’)

1
𝑠= (190° 32′ )
2
𝑠 = 95°16′

1 sin(95°16′ − 51° 22’) sin(95°16′ − 79°40’)

tan 𝑃 = √
2 sin(95°16′) sin(95°16′ − 59° 30’)

1
tan 𝑃 = 0.5660250134
2
1
𝑃 = tan−1 0.5660250134
2
1
𝑃 = 29.51094649
2
29.51094649
𝑃=
1
2
𝑝 = 59.02189298 𝑜𝑟 59° 1′ 81"

Reducing the hour angle P to units of time, we get P = 59° 1’ 81” ÷ 15 = 3’ 56”. If
in afternoon 3:56 p.m. if in the morning 12’ – 3’56” = 8’ 4” or 8:04 a.m.

III. Practice Exercises

1. An observation taken in New York (40° 43’ N) showed the altitude of
the sun to be 52°25’. Its declination was found to be 12° 15’. What was
the local apparent time of the observation if it was taken in the
morning.
2. An afternoon observation at montreal (45°30’ N) determined the
altitude of the sun to be 26° 30’. Given that the declination of the sun
was 8° 0’ S, find the local apparent time of the observation.
 3. An observer in the Philippines find the altitude of the sun to be 35°23’
at 9:15 am., local apparent time. If the declination of the sun is 10° 48’
S. What is the latitude of the place of observation?
4. The declination of a star is -26° 19’, its altitude is 31° 5’, and its
azimuth is S 18° 9’ W. Find the latitude of the observer.
5. The declination of a star is 7° 54’ N, its hour angle is 48° 51’. Find its
azimuth, it being given that the observer is in latitude 43°49’.
IV. Answers
1. An observation taken in New York (40° 43’ N) showed the altitude of
the sun to be 52°25’. Its declination was found to be 12° 15’. What was
the local apparent time of the observation if it was taken in the
morning.

m = colatitude = 90° - 40° 43’ = 49° 17’

p = coaltitude = 90° - 52°25’ = 37° 35’

z = codeclination = 90° - 12° 15’= 77°45’

Since only one angle is required, we use this formula from case 1.
1
𝑠 = (𝑚 + 𝑝 + 𝑧)
2

1 sin(𝑠 − 𝑚) sin(𝑠 − 𝑧)
tan 𝑃 = √
2 sin(𝑠) sin(𝑠 − 𝑝)

Thus,
1
𝑠 = 2 (49° 17’ + 37° 35’ + 77°45’)

1
𝑠= (164° 37′ )
2
𝑠 = 82° 18′ 30"

1 sin(82° 18′ 30" − 49° 17’) sin(82° 18′ 30" − 77°45’)

tan 𝑃 = √
2 sin(82° 18′ 30") sin(82° 18′ 30" − 37° 35’)

1
tan 𝑃 = 0.2480608554
2
 1
𝑃 = tan−1 0.2480608554
2
1
𝑃 = 13.93162663
2
13.93162663
𝑃=
1
2
𝑝 = 27.86325325 𝑜𝑟 27° 51′ 47.71"

Reducing the hour angle P to units of time, we get P = 27° 51′ 47.71" ÷ 15 = 1’
51”. If in the morning 12’ – 1’51” = 10’ 9” or 10:09 a.m.

2. An afternoon observation at montreal (45°30’ N) determined the

altitude of the sun to be 26° 30’. Given that the declination of the sun
was 8° 0’ S, find the local apparent time of the observation.

m = colatitude = 90° - 45° 30’ = 44° 30’

p = coaltitude = 90° - 26° 30’ = 63° 30’

z = codeclination = 90° - 8° 0’ = 82° 0’

Since only one angle is required, we use this formula from case 1.
1
𝑠 = 2 (𝑚 + 𝑝 + 𝑧)

1 sin(𝑠 − 𝑚) sin(𝑠 − 𝑧)
tan 𝑃 = √
2 sin(𝑠) sin(𝑠 − 𝑝)

Thus,
1
𝑠 = 2 (44° 30’ + 63° 30’ + 82° 0’)

1
𝑠= (190° 0′ )
2
𝑠 = 95° 0′
 1 sin(95° 0′ − 44° 30’) sin(95° 0′ − 82° 0’)
tan 𝑃 = √
2 sin(95° 0′) sin(95° 0′ − 63° 30’)

1
tan 𝑃 = 0.5738172902
2
1
𝑃 = tan−1 0.5738172902
2
1
𝑃 = 29.84794916
2
29.84794916
𝑃=
1
2
𝑝 = 59.69589831 𝑜𝑟 59° 41′ 45.23"

Reducing the hour angle P to units of time, we get P = 59° 41′ 45.23" ÷ 15 = 3’
58”. Its 3:58 p.m. in afternoon

3. An observer in the Philippines find the altitude of the sun to be 35°23’.

If the declination of the sun is 10° 48’ S and latitude of the place is 23°
24’. Find the local apparent time in afternoon.

m = colatitude = 90° - 23° 24’ = 66° 36’

p = coaltitude = 90° - 35° 23’ = 54° 37’

z = codeclination = 90° - 10° 48’ = 79°12’

Since only one angle is required, we use this formula from case 1.
1
𝑠 = 2 (𝑚 + 𝑝 + 𝑧)

1 sin(𝑠 − 𝑚) sin(𝑠 − 𝑧)
tan 𝑃 = √
2 sin(𝑠) sin(𝑠 − 𝑝)

Thus,
1
𝑠 = 2 (66° 36’ + 54° 37’ + 79°12’)
 1
𝑠= (200° 25′ )
2
𝑠 = 100°12′ 30"

1 sin(100°12′ 30" − 66° 36’) sin(100°12′ 30" − 79°12’)

tan 𝑃 = √
2 sin(100°12′ 30") sin(100°12′ 30" − 54° 37’)

1
tan 𝑃 = 0.4497525665
2
1
𝑃 = tan−1 0.4497525665
2
1
𝑃 = 24.21595471
2
24.21595471
𝑃=
1
2
𝑝 = 48.43190942 𝑜𝑟 48° 25′ 54.87"

Reducing the hour angle P to units of time, we get P = 48° 25′ 54.87" ÷ 15 = 3’
13”. If in afternoon 3:13 p.m.

4. The declination of a star is -26° 19’, its altitude is 31° 5’, and its latitude
is 18° 9’ W. Find the local apparent time.

m = colatitude = 90° - 18° 9’ = 71° 51’

p = coaltitude = 90° - 31° 5’ = 58° 55’

z = codeclination = 90° -( -26° 19’) = 116° 19’

Since only one angle is required, we use this formula from case 1.
1
𝑠 = 2 (𝑚 + 𝑝 + 𝑧)

1 sin(𝑠 − 𝑚) sin(𝑠 − 𝑧)
tan 𝑃 = √
2 sin(𝑠) sin(𝑠 − 𝑝)
Thus,
1
𝑠 = 2 (71° 51’ + 58° 55’ + 116° 19’)

1
𝑠= (247° 5′ )
2
𝑠 = 123°32′ 30"

1 sin(123°32′ 30" − 71° 51’) sin(123°32′ 30" − 116° 19’)

tan 𝑃 = √
2 sin(123°32′ 30") sin(123°32′ 30" − 58° 55’)

1
tan 𝑃 = 0.3620025981
2
1
𝑃 = tan−1 0.3620025981
2
1
𝑃 = 19.90038761
2
19.90038761
𝑃=
1
2
𝑝 = 39.80077523 𝑜𝑟 39° 48′ 2.79"

Reducing the hour angle P to units of time, we get P =39° 48′ 2.79" ÷ 15 = 2’ 39”.
If in afternoon 2:39 p.m. if in the morning 12’ – 2’ 39” = 9’ 21” or 9:21 a.m.

5. The declination of a star is 7° 54’ N, altitude is 48° 51’. Find its local
apparent time, it being given that the observer is in latitude 43°49’.

m = colatitude = 90° - 43°49’ = 46° 11’

p = coaltitude = 90° - 48° 51’ = 41° 9’

z = codeclination = 90° - 7° 54’ = 82° 6’

Since only one angle is required, we use this formula from case 1.
1
𝑠 = 2 (𝑚 + 𝑝 + 𝑧)
 1 sin(𝑠 − 𝑚) sin(𝑠 − 𝑧)
tan 𝑃 = √
2 sin(𝑠) sin(𝑠 − 𝑝)

Thus,
1
𝑠 = 2 (46° 11’ + 41° 9’ + 82° 6’)

1
𝑠= (169° 26′ )
2
𝑠 = 84° 43′

1 sin(84° 43′ − 22° 11’) sin(84° 43′ − 82° 6’)

tan 𝑃 = √
2 sin(84° 43′) sin(84° 43′ − 41° 9’)

1
tan 𝑃 = 0.2429517559
2
1
𝑃 = tan−1 0.2429517559
2
1
𝑃 = 13.65553803
2
13.65553803
𝑃=
1
2
𝑝 = 27.31107607 𝑜𝑟 27° 18′ 39.87"

Reducing the hour angle P to units of time, we get P = 27° 18′ 39.87" ÷ 15 = 1’
49”. If in afternoon 1:49 p.m. if in the morning 12’ – 1’49” = 8’ 4” or 10:11 a.m.

V. References
http://www.math.ubc.ca/~cass/courses/m308-
02b/projects/jackson/Page2.html
https://www.merriam-
webster.com/dictionary/astronomical%20triangle
Name of the book: Plane and Spherical Trigonometry with Tables by Paul R. Rider,
Ph.D., copyright 1969 p. 241 – p. 246