The Mathematics of the Longitude - Department of Mathematics
The Mathematics of the Longitude - Department of Mathematics
The Mathematics of the Longitude - Department of Mathematics
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Let M be <strong>the</strong> true altitude <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Moon (arc MO),<br />
M be <strong>the</strong> apparent altitude <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Moon (arc Om),<br />
S be <strong>the</strong> true altitude <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Sun or star (arc SH),<br />
s be <strong>the</strong> observed altitude <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Sun or star (arc sH),<br />
D be <strong>the</strong> true lunar distance (arc SM ),<br />
d be <strong>the</strong> observed lunar distance (arc sm ).<br />
Due to <strong>the</strong> parallax <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Moon, <strong>the</strong> observed altitude <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Moon is<br />
smaller than <strong>the</strong> true altitude <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Moon as shown in Figure 8.3. And due<br />
to refraction, observed altitude <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Sun or star is bigger than <strong>the</strong> true<br />
altitude <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Sun or star.<br />
Using triangle ZSM and <strong>the</strong> law <strong>of</strong> cosines for sides, we have<br />
cos( SM) − cos( ZS) cos( ZM)<br />
cos( Z)<br />
=<br />
,<br />
sin( ZS) sin( ZM)<br />
cos( SM) − sin( HS) sin( OM)<br />
cos( Z)<br />
=<br />
. (1)<br />
cos( HS) cos( OM)<br />
Using triangle Zsm and <strong>the</strong> law <strong>of</strong> cosines for sides, we have<br />
cos( sm) − cos( Zs) cos( Zm)<br />
cos( Z)<br />
=<br />
,<br />
sin( Zs) sin( Zm)<br />
cos( sm) − sin( Hs) sin( Om)<br />
cos( Z)<br />
=<br />
. (2)<br />
cos( Hs) cos( Om)