Aside from the Sun, when heavenly body is most
useful for determining your latitude? [1 pt]

"Bart" wrote in message
...
Aside from the Sun, when heavenly body is most
useful for determining your latitude? [1 pt]

The earth, then Polaris.

"Charles Momsen" wrote in message
...

"Bart" wrote in message
...
Aside from the Sun, when heavenly body is most
useful for determining your latitude? [1 pt]

The earth, then Polaris.


Polaris is of dubious utility in the southern hemisphere. I'd have to say
the Moon.

Wilbur Hubbard

"Wilbur Hubbard" wrote in message
anews.com...

"Charles Momsen" wrote in message
...

"Bart" wrote in message
...
Aside from the Sun, when heavenly body is most
useful for determining your latitude? [1 pt]

The earth, then Polaris.


Polaris is of dubious utility in the southern hemisphere. I'd have to say
the Moon.

Wilbur Hubbard


Excellent point. Personally I would avoid sailing in the Southern Oceans,
it's full of foreigners.

On Oct 23, 9:48*pm, "Charles Momsen" wrote:
"Bart" wrote in message

...

Aside from the Sun, when heavenly body is most
useful for determining your latitude? *[1 pt]

The earth, then Polaris.

For the Northern Hemisphere, Polaris is quite
useful. How much does it vary from true
North?

"Bart" wrote in message
...
On Oct 23, 9:48 pm, "Charles Momsen" wrote:
"Bart" wrote in message

...

Aside from the Sun, when heavenly body is most
useful for determining your latitude? [1 pt]

The earth, then Polaris.

For the Northern Hemisphere, Polaris is quite
useful. How much does it vary from true
North?

It depends on the time of year.

"Charles Momsen" wrote in message
...

"Bart" wrote in message
...
On Oct 23, 9:48 pm, "Charles Momsen" wrote:
"Bart" wrote in message

...

Aside from the Sun, when heavenly body is most
useful for determining your latitude? [1 pt]

The earth, then Polaris.

For the Northern Hemisphere, Polaris is quite
useful. How much does it vary from true
North?

It depends on the time of year.


Bwahahahhahahahahhahahahhahahahhah! Time of year has nothing to do with
where Polaris is seen in the sky. The Earth's axis of rotation is only
different with respect to the sun making for seasons, not to the plane of
the ecliptic. Duh! Now, had you said something about it depends upon in
which epoch you might have had a point because of something called
precession of the Earth's rotational axis.

I hope this helps.

http://image.gsfc.nasa.gov/poetry/ask/q1795.html


Wilbur Hubbard

Wilbur Hubbard wrote:
"Charles Momsen" wrote in message
...
"Bart" wrote in message
...
On Oct 23, 9:48 pm, "Charles Momsen" wrote:
"Bart" wrote in message

...

Aside from the Sun, when heavenly body is most
useful for determining your latitude? [1 pt]
The earth, then Polaris.
For the Northern Hemisphere, Polaris is quite
useful. How much does it vary from true
North?

It depends on the time of year.


Bwahahahhahahahahhahahahhahahahhah! Time of year has nothing to do with
where Polaris is seen in the sky. The Earth's axis of rotation is only
different with respect to the sun making for seasons, not to the plane of
the ecliptic. Duh! Now, had you said something about it depends upon in
which epoch you might have had a point because of something called
precession of the Earth's rotational axis.

I hope this helps.

http://image.gsfc.nasa.gov/poetry/ask/q1795.html


Well Neal, strictly speaking Charles is correct,, it is caused by
parallax error. Or more correctly, geocentric parallax, for Polaris
it's about 0.007",,, not likely that you'd be able to measure it while
at sea.


Ref: http://www.alcyone.de/SIT/mainstars/SIT000816.htm

Hope this helps.

Cheers
Martin

"Wilbur Hubbard" wrote in message
anews.com...

"Charles Momsen" wrote in message
...

"Bart" wrote in message
...
On Oct 23, 9:48 pm, "Charles Momsen" wrote:
"Bart" wrote in message

...

Aside from the Sun, when heavenly body is most
useful for determining your latitude? [1 pt]

The earth, then Polaris.

For the Northern Hemisphere, Polaris is quite
useful. How much does it vary from true
North?

It depends on the time of year.


Bwahahahhahahahahhahahahhahahahhah! Time of year has nothing to do with
where Polaris is seen in the sky. The Earth's axis of rotation is only
different with respect to the sun making for seasons, not to the plane of
the ecliptic. Duh! Now, had you said something about it depends upon in
which epoch you might have had a point because of something called
precession of the Earth's rotational axis.

I hope this helps.

http://image.gsfc.nasa.gov/poetry/ask/q1795.html


Wilbur Hubbard


You're right - I'm wrong! Learned another new thing today, thanks.

"Bart" wrote in message
...
Aside from the Sun, when heavenly body is most
useful for determining your latitude? [1 pt]

My ex-wife.