DCG20063 – FIELD 5.

2 METHODS OF AZIMUTH DETERMINATION

ASTRONOMY TOPIC 4
There are 3 methods that can be used to determine azimuth.
At the end of this topic, students will be able to: The methods are:
5.1 Define azimuth i. Altitude extra meridian method (Ex-Meridian)
5.2 Methods of azimuth determination ii. Near elongation method
5.3 Azimuth determination using Extra-Meridian
5.4 Azimuth determination by observing stars at elongation 5.3 AZIMUTH DETERMINATION USING EXTRA-MERIDIAN

5.1 DEFINITION In this method, azimuth of a star located far away from the
meridian plane is determined by measuring the altitude and
The azimuth of a star is the angle between the meridian its horizontal angle. Time of observation, latitude and
plane and the plane contains the star and the observer’s geographical coordinates of the place must also be recorded.
zenith. The azimuth is measured from 0° to 360° in The azimuth determination is based on the astronomical
clockwise direction. triangle formed.

0° 0° Z
z 90°- ø

90°- α
P
Meridian
90°- δ P
z
Meridian

z
W

P’ Equator
α True Meridian
S N
o z

180° 180°
E Star Bearing
(a) Plan View (b) Plan View
Northen Hemiphere Southern Hemiphere Figure 5.2: Astronomical triangle
Figure 5.1: The azimuth angle
From Figure 5.2,
Z (angle at Zenith) gives the azimuth for the star. If a star
located at East, Azimuth = Z°. If a star located at West, ZP = co-latitude = 90° - ø
Azimuth = 360° - Z°. If the observer located in the PS = polar distance = 90° - δ
southern hemisphere, and the star was at East, Azimuth = ZS = zenith distance = 90° - α
180° - Z°. If the star was at West, Azimuth = 180° + Z°.
The zenith distance is calculated from the observed altitude
and the polar distance is calculated from the star’s
declination value which obtained from the Star’s Almanac by
referring to the time of observation. Hence, from the 5.4 AZIMUTH DETERMINATION BY OBSERVING STARS AT
astronomical triangle PZS, the azimuth value for the star can ELONGATION
be computed by using cosine formula or half-angle formula:
‘Elongation’ is when the location of circumpolar is farthest
cos (90° ± δ) = cos (90° - α) . cos (90° - ø) + sin (90° - α) . from the True Meridian either in east or in west and has
sin (90° - ø) . cos z maximum azimuth value. At this time, if the star was at
east, it is called ‘eastern elongation’ while if it was at west, it
Simplify: is called ‘western elongation’. At the time of elongation, the
cos p = sin α . sin ø + cos α . cos ø . cos z daily motion of the star is tangent to the altitude circle of the
star. If we observe the star through total station, the arc of
where p is the polar distance: the star moves parallel with the vertical cross hair and has
if northern star, p = 90° - δ no changes in the azimuth for a while. The following diagram
if southern star, p = 90° + δ shows the elongation of the star.

Once the azimuth of a star is known, therefore the azimuth

Z
of the RO can be determined when the angle between the
star and the RO is measured.
West
Elongation
The observation procedure

i. Set up the total station and observe RO at face left

ii. Observe the star at the same face and record the vertical East
P
angle, horizontal angle and time of observation Elongation Star motion path
iii. Change into face right and observe the same star and

Altitude circle

Altitude circle
record the same details as in (ii)

Meridian
iv. Next, observe the RO at face right and repeat steps i – 180°
iv. South
v. Compute the average value of all readings recorded.
vi. The azimuth for RO can be determined after obtaining 90° 270°
O
the altitude value, the angle between the star and RO
and time of observation West maximum Azimuth
Horizon Circle
0°
Calculation North
In solar observation form, the formula to compute azimuth is East maximum Azimuth
given as follows:
Figure 5.4: Elongation of the star
sin δ − sinφ sinα
cos Az =
cosφ cos ε
Condition of elongation of the star Example 1

i. Both place of observation and star must be in the same Compute the altitude, azimuth and hour angle of an eastern
hemisphere elongation for Octantis star which observed at latitude of 28° 14’
ii. The polar distance of the star must less than the co-latitude of 13” South. The declination of the star is 85° 20’ 30” S.
the place of observation or the declination of the star is greater
than the latitude of the observer. Exercise 1

Ρ<c or δ>Ø Given ø: 5° 21’ 36” N Find Az: ?

Observation procedure δ: 0° 22’ 25” S LHA: ?
α: 43° 38’ 39”
i. Before the observation, the observer must first know the star *Prepare: This question needs you to understand when to use cosine Az formula and
that being elongates by making a pre-computation. It is to
know how to draw the astronomical triangle to solve the problem by using any
know the name of the star, time of elongation, altitude value
suitable formula learned in Topic 2: Spherical triangle.
and direction.
ii. The accuracy of observation is obtained by observing a pair of * Advice:
star, one in east and one in west. The observer has to record - When the question ask for Az, use cosine Az formula.
the horizontal angle of the star at elongation and the angle - When the question asks for LHA, first, find the t angle in astronomical triangle. Then
between the star and RO. Therefore, two observation needed at consider whether the is at east or west. For example in this question, the Az that
one star that is one in face left and one in face right. you will get will show you that the  located at East because of the Az value is less
iii. It has been researched that for a star that has a 10° polar than 180°. Therefore, the LHA = 24hr – t. Don’t forget to convert t value to
distance, the azimuth of the star will not change more than 5” hh:mm:ss.
for duration of 3 minutes and 30 seconds before and after the
elongation. Hence, the arc of the star is moving vertically for 7 Exercise 2
minutes and this gives the opportunity for observation. Thus,
the smaller the polar distance, the longer duration available for
Given: Western star Find Az: ?
observation.
ø: 5° 21’ 36” N LHA: ?
Formula for one star (east or west) δ: 23° 58’ 16” S
α: 17° 20’ 27”
The Napier’s Rule is used to calculate the star at elongation:
*Prepare: This question needs you to understand the concept of Azimuth, Declination
and Local Hour Angle.
P * Advice:
t P 90° - t - Be careful when the question gives you South Declination.
c z - When the question states either western star or eastern star, it is actually a hint for
90° - c you that there is something to do with the azimuth value and LHA.
S 90° - Z - When it is stated in the question that the star is a western star, it is important to
Z z know that the Az for western star is 360° - A. A is solved by using astronomical
triangle.
Figure 5.5: The Napier’s Rule
- For western star, LHA = t. Don’t forget to convert t value to hh:mm:ss.
Had perbezaan antara set cerapan:
Perbezaan hitungan bearing grid di antara dua (2) set cerapan hendaklah
tidak melebihi 10”, manakala purata bearing grid antara dua (2) set
hendaklah dikira kepada 01” terhampir.