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Sighting the Sun at midday (when it is highest in the sky) is one of the best methods to determine latitude (of course you must know what day of the year it is too but that was relatively easy to keep track of).

You have to be very careful if you are in the middle of an ocean and on a ship bobbing on the waves to do this properly!

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15y ago

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Can navigators find their latitude by measuring the angle from the northern horizon to the north celestial pole?

Until GPS, or at least until LORAN, that's exactly how it was always donein the northern hemisphere.Navigators need another method, however, in the southern hemisphere,since the north celestial pole is not visible from there.


What did the early pacific navigators use to find there way?

nothing


What is the navigational tool to find latitude?

The navigational tool to find latitude is a sextant, which uses the angle of the sun or stars above the horizon to determine the observer's position on Earth. This angle corresponds to the observer's latitude.


How did stars help us find are way north to south?

In the northern hemisphere, we used to rely on locating where Polaris is in the sky, which is almost directly over the North Pole. The angle of Polaris above the horizon corresponds to your latitude so Polaris helped many sea navigators to find their was north or south.


How can you determine your latitude in the northern hemisphere just by using a star?

To determine your latitude in the northern hemisphere using a star, measure the angle between the horizon and the star using a sextant. This angle is called the star's altitude. If you know the star's declination (which is constant), subtract it from 90 degrees minus the star's altitude to find your latitude.


How is Polaris used to navigate?

Polaris, also known as the North Star, is used for navigation because it is positioned nearly directly above the North Pole, making it a reliable indicator of true north. Navigators can find Polaris by locating the Big Dipper constellation; the two stars at the end of its "bowl" point directly to it. By measuring the angle between Polaris and the horizon, navigators can also determine their latitude in the Northern Hemisphere. This makes Polaris a crucial reference point for celestial navigation.


How do you find the latitude of northern hemisphere?

To find the latitude in the northern hemisphere, you can use a GPS device or online map tools that provide latitude information based on your current location. Additionally, you can determine latitude using a sextant and celestial navigation techniques by measuring the angle of the North Star above the horizon.


How navigators and sailors use magnetic compass in preparing route maps?

how the navigators and sailors use compass to find direction


How the navigators and sailor use magnetic compass in preparing route maps?

how the navigators and sailors use compass to find direction


When you observe a star on the celestial equator for a period of a few hours you notice what?

You will notice that the angle makes with respect to the horizon. Typically, you will find that the angle will be 90 minus the latitude of the observer.


What devise helped navigators find magnetic north?

The Compass


Can you find latitude using the length of day?

The length of day alone does not provide enough information to determine latitude. The length of day varies with latitude, but other factors such as time of year and location also influence it. To find latitude, you typically need additional information like the altitude of the sun at noon or the angle of the shadows cast by objects.