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Compass Error

This document discusses three methods of using celestial observations to establish compass error: amplitude, azimuth, and Polaris. Amplitude involves taking the compass bearing of the sun at sunrise or sunset. Azimuth uses the compass bearing of any celestial body, provided its altitude is not too high, along with its local hour angle and declination to calculate true bearing. Polaris uses the nearly fixed position of the pole star above the North Pole to compare its compass bearing to its true bearing from tables.

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Insan Ahammad
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426 views

Compass Error

This document discusses three methods of using celestial observations to establish compass error: amplitude, azimuth, and Polaris. Amplitude involves taking the compass bearing of the sun at sunrise or sunset. Azimuth uses the compass bearing of any celestial body, provided its altitude is not too high, along with its local hour angle and declination to calculate true bearing. Polaris uses the nearly fixed position of the pole star above the North Pole to compare its compass bearing to its true bearing from tables.

Uploaded by

Insan Ahammad
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Compass Error

Amplitude / Azimuth / Polaris


The ability to establish the accuracy or
otherwise of the ships compass is a
fundamental of Marine Navigation
Compass Error can be accurately
established by several methods –
Transits, Horizontal Sextant Angles or by
Celestial Observation
Three methods of Celestial Observations
can be used
Amplitude – a bearing of the Sun: taken
at Sunrise or Sunset
Azimuth – a bearing of any Celestial
Body, taken at any time – provided its
altitude is not too high
Polaris – a bearing of the Pole Star
Amplitude
Requires a compass bearing of the body
on rising or setting
In practice because of refraction, the
bearing must be taken when the body is a
semi diameter above the horizon
This can reduce the accuracy, as “when” the body is a semi
diameter above the horizon has to be judged by eye.
Alternatively a more accurate method can be used where
the bearing is taken when the Lower limb is at a tangent to
the horizon and a correction is then applied
Establish the time (UTC) of the
observation and vessels position
Find the Declination of the body
Sin Amplitude = Sin Dec
Cos Lat
Or use Tables
Amplitude is named East or West
depending if body is rising or setting and
North or South as per Declination
EG East 15 North = 15 North of East
ie 075˚ T
East or West must be put first or the
Amplitude will not be correct
Compare the True bearing with the
Compass bearing
Azimuth
Compass bearing is taken of an
appropriate body – high Altitude will
reduce the accuracy of the bearing.
Establish exact time UTC and position of
observation
Calculate the Local Hour Angle and
Declination of the body
Calculate the bearing using A,B,C method
(tables or formula) – name as appropriate
A = Tan LHA / Tan Lat
B = Tan Dec / Sin LHA
C = A +/- B
Tan Azimuth = 1 / C x Cos Lat
Azimuth is named North or South after C
and East or West depending on LHA
EG N 15 E = 15 east of North
ie 015 ˚ T
NOTE the different format used compared
with an Amplitude
Polaris
The Pole Star is almost stationary above
the North Geographic Pole.
A compass bearing of Polaris will be
always nearly North and can be compared
with the True bearing from the Pole Star
tables.
Restricted to the Northern Hemisphere
above 10 ~ 15 N and hours of darkness
Establish the Time UTC and Position of
the observation
Calculate the LHA of Aries
Use the Pole Star tables to establish the
True Bearing

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