AZƏRBAYCAN DÖVLƏT XƏZƏR DƏNİZ GƏMİÇİLİYİ QSC

AZERBAIJAN CASPIAN SHIPPING COMPANY CJSC

AZƏRBAYCAN DÖVLƏT DƏNİZ AKADEMİYASI

AZERBAIJAN STATE MARINE ACADEMY

Independent work №8

Title : Determination of heading correction by astronomical methods.

Discipline :

Qroup: 208I

Student: Novruzov Aliagha

Teacher: Osmanov E.E.

BAKU – 2021
Determining compass corrections by celestial luminaries

Astronomical methods of determining the bearing, irrespective of the location of the

vessel, are the most accurate and most reliable and often the only possible methods.

Astronomical methods of determining ΔК are based on comparing true (TB) and

compass (KB) directions to landmarks (celestial luminaries), i.e.:

ΔK = TB * - KB * = Acr* - KB*,

For the true direction to any (available in the MAE) luminary in astronomy take the

azimuth of the luminary in a circular account (Acr* = TB*), calculated at the time

of compass bearing measurement (KB*) by the formulas

ctgAс = tgδ * cosφс * cosec tм - sinφс - ctg tм,

tм = tgr ± λcE!w;

where Ас is the azimuth of the luminary; δ is the declination of the luminary; t is the

local hour angle of the luminary φc( λc) is the calculated latitude (longitude) from

the travel map at the time of measuring the compass bearing on the luminary; tgr is

the Greenwich hour angle of the luminary

Thus, in order to calculate ΔK we need to know:

the computed azimuth of the luminary (A skr) in a circular account;

the computed coordinates (φc, λc), which are taken from the navigation chart at the

time of the compass bearing to the luminary; the equatorial coordinates of the

luminary (tm. δ), which are determined from the date and Greenwich time of bearing

measurement (Tgr = T + Uh) using the MAE of the current year.

So In order to determine the celestial bearing correction, the observer only needs to

know the computed position of the vessel, the compass bearing to the luminary, the

date and the exact time when the compass bearing to the luminary was taken. h <30°
Determining Polaris Compass Correction

Polaris (a Minor Star) in its diurnal motion describes on the NS a circle of small

spherical radius R = Δ (Δtah = 51'). Therefore the azimuth of Polaris during the day

will change slowly and within small limits, both eastward (E) and westward (W), for

example: when φ˂35°N - from 0.0° to 1;2°; when φ˂60°N - from 0.0° to 1.5°; when

φ˂70°N - from 0.0° to 2.5°; when φ˃75°N - from 0.0° to 2.7°

A special table (p. 276 MAE) makes it possible to determine the azimuth of Polaris

for an observer located between 5° and 70° north latitude with an accuracy of ±0.1°.

The arguments for entering the Polaris Azimuth table are: - local sidereal time (local

Aries point hour angle) tm= tGR ± λ,E/W, rounded to a whole degree;

- latitude of the observer's (ship's) location, rounded to a multiple of 5°.

To switch to. the circular azimuth account, it is necessary to:

if the name NE discard the name, e.g. 2.3°NE~ 2.3°(AKR).

If NW, discard the name and subtract the remaining number from 360°, e.g. 2.0°

NW 358.0° (AKR)

Ease of calculation and high accuracy of azimuth obtained with the Polaris Azimuth

Table enable the Polaris to be considered the main object for determination of the

course finder correction (ΔК) when sailing at northern latitudes (particularly at

latitudes 5°-40°N).

A similar "Polaris Azimuth" table is given in MT-2000 on p. 371.