INTERCEPT METHOD

COMPUTATION
CELESTIAL NAVIGATION
Given Example:
DATE: JULY 13, 2021
DR(Dead Reckoning): What we need?
1. Almanac 2021:
Latitude: 10° 42.6'N Altitude Correction
Longitude: 42 ° 48.4'W Tables for 10° to 90°
Sun, Stars, Planets,
Sight of Antares ☆ Increments and
Correction, Daily
Hs (Height of Sextant): 17 ° 55.2’ pages
GMT: 4:12:16
2. Pub. No. 249 Vol.2
Index Error: 2.0’ on the arc
3. TABLE 5. — Correction
He: 12ft to Tabulated Altitude for
Minutes of Declination
Correcting the sight (Index Error)
Hs (Height of sextant) : 17 ° 55.2’
IE (Index Error): 2.0’ on the arc
17 ° 53.2’

Index Error Rules

If it's on the arc- take it off. That means if your sextant Index error is plus a certain amount
of minutes then that figure is to be subtracted from the Hs.

If it's off the arc- put it on. That means if your sextant Index error is minus a certain
amount of minutes then that figure is to be added to the Hs
Correcting the sight (DIP)
HEIGHT OF EYE: 12FT Dip

Dip is always subtracted. Dip is

determined by the height of eye
Hs (Height of sextant): 17 ° 55.2’ above the surface of the water.
IE (Index Error): 2.0’ on the arc So, if your eyes are about 10-1/2
feet above the water then the
17 ° 53.2’ Dip correction would be -3.1'.
Dip: 3.4’ That's minus 3.1 minutes of arc
to be subtracted from Hs.
Ha (Apparent altitude): 17 ° 49.8’
Subtract dip from the Hs to
obtain Ha (Apparent Altitude).
Find the correction for dip using
Altitude Correction Table.
Altitude Correction Table (Almanac)
Correcting the Sight (Apparent Altitude)
Hs (Height of sextant): 17 ° 55.2’

IE (Index Error): 2.0’ on the arc

17 ° 53.2’

Dip: 3.4’

Ha (Apparent altitude): 17 ° 49.8’

Altitude Correction: 3.0’

Ho (Altitude Observed): 17 ° 46.8’

Altitude Correction Table
Finding the SHA and Declination of the ☆
Antares
SHA ☆: 112 ° 19.0'
DECLINATION: S 026° 28.7’
Daily Page (Almanac)
GHA of Aries and Antares
DATE: JULY 13, 2021 SHA ☆ : 112° 19.0'
GMT: 4:12:16

GHA of Aries: 4hrs 351° 15.6’

12 min 16 seconds:+ 3° 04.5’ – look for the increments and corrections
GHA of Aries = 354° 20.1’ - Add GHA of Aries and SHA of Antares to
SHA of Antares = 112° 19.0‘ get the GHA of the Antares
GHA of Antares = 466° 39.1’
Increments and Corrections (Almanac)
LHA of Antares
GHA of Antares = 466° 39.1’ LHA
= - 360° LHA is the Local Hour Angle and is never more than 360°. LHA
is determined either by adding or subtracting the DR.
GHA of Antares = 106° 39.1’ Longitude from/to the GHA according to which Hemisphere
you're in- Eastern or Western using the following rules.
DR. Longitude = 42° W
LHA Rules in West Longitudes
LHA of Antares = 64° In West Longitudes- subtract DR. Longitude from GHA to
obtain LHA. Only subtract the whole DR. Longitude degree
figure from the whole GHA degree figure- do nothing with the
LHA Rules in East Longitudes minutes or arc. If GHA is less than DR. Longitude then add
add DR. Longitude to GHA to obtain LHA. If the 360° to GHA and then subtract DR. Longitude from it to arrive
resulting LHA figure is greater than 360° then at LHA.
subtract 360° from it to obtain the LHA.
Pub. No. 249 Vol. 2
Value we need in Sight
Reduction table:

1. DR. Latitude: 011° (10° 42.6'N)

2. Declination: S 026°
3. LHA of Antares: 64°
Steps to get the Hc, d, and Z:
HC = 17° 39’
d = -23’
Z - 122°

First locate the correct Latitude- 11°

Next, locate the 26° declination column
Next, locate the 64° LHA row
Steps to get the Hc, d, and Z:
Steps to get the Hc, d, and Z:
Steps to get the Hc, d, and Z:
Steps to get the Hc, d, and Z:
Table 5 Correction Altitude for Minutes
of Declination.
Declination of Antares: 026° Obtain the “d correction” from; Table 5- Correction
28.7’/ 29’ (Round up and to Tabulated Altitude for Minutes of Declination.
minutes only needed) Locate the minutes of declination of “29’” (28.7'
rounded up) in the column with the ' (minute
Hc = 17° 39’ symbol)- it's the vertical column on the far left and
d = -23’ far right of the Table.
Z - 122°
Table 5 Correction Altitude for Minutes
of Declination.
Table 5 Correction Altitude for Minutes
of Declination.
Hc = 17° 39’ - Obtain the final Hc figure by subtracting the “d corr” figure of
12 to the Hc of 18° 29'
d(Correction) = -11’

Hc = 17° 28’
 Getting Zn…
Z - 122° Z (azimuth Angle) Rules:

Zn = 360° – Z North latitudes:

LHA greater than 180°, then Zn=Z
Zn = 360° – 122°
LHA less than 180°, then Zn=360-Z
Zn = 238° South Latitudes:
Azimuth (Zn) is calculated from the Azimuth LHA greater than 180°, then Zn=180°-Z
Angle (Z), found in the Sight Reduction Tables. LHA less than 180° then Zn=180°+Z
The Azimuth is the angle of the line through
the Assumed Position towards the geographic
position of the celestial body. This angle is
given in degrees starting at north, going
clockwise.
Intercept
Intercept Intercept Rules:
Ho = 17 ° 46.8’
This is the Intercept and is found If Hc is greater than Ho then put an “A” Hc = 17° 28‘
by subtracting the smaller figure next to it indicating the LOP (Line Of Intercept = 18.8 nm Toward
from the larger- either Ho or Hc. Position) will be plotted Away from the
Recall that in the Ho 17 ° 46.8’ Ap.
was being used for this Star sight
reduction procedure. In the Hc If Ho is greater than Hc then put a “T”
section Hc of 17° 28' was next to it indicating the LOP (Line Of
calculated. Position) will be plotted Toward
The End
Ho 17º 46.8'
GHA Antares 106º 40'
LHA Antares 064º
Assumed Position 11º N / 42º 40.1' W
Hc 17º 28'
Zn 238º
Intercept 18.8 nm Toward