Question 1

Polaris gives latitude almost directly because…

Accepted Answer

It stands within a degree of the celestial pole, whose altitude IS your latitude — The pole’s altitude equals latitude exactly; Polaris rides a small circle around it, so one small computed correction (the almanac’s Q tables) finishes the job.

Question 2

The correction ladder for a STAR differs from the sun’s by…

Accepted Answer

No semi-diameter — a star is a point, there is no limb to bring to the horizon — IE, dip and refraction still apply; the SD line vanishes. (The moon is the awkward one — large variable SD and parallax — which is why this course computes sun and stars.)

The latitude that hangs in the north

This lesson is part of a paid course