Meridian
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Meridian sailing refers to navigation directly north or south along a line of longitude (a meridian). It is a special case of rhumb line sailing where the course steered is 0° (North) or 180° (South), meaning the vessel does not change its longitude, only its latitude. This method simplifies position calculation as the distance traveled equals the change in latitude.
Key Concepts Related to Meridian Sailing:
Definition of a Meridian: A meridian is an imaginary half-circle on the Earth's surface running from pole to pole, crossing the equator at right angles. All points on a single meridian share the same longitude.
Meridian Passage (Noon Sight): This is a critical celestial navigation technique where a navigator measures the maximum altitude of a celestial body (usually the sun) as it crosses their local meridian. This occurs at local apparent noon and is used to determine the observer's latitude.
Key Concepts Related to Meridian Sailing:
Definition of a Meridian: A meridian is an imaginary half-circle on the Earth's surface running from pole to pole, crossing the equator at right angles. All points on a single meridian share the same longitude.
Meridian Passage (Noon Sight): This is a critical celestial navigation technique where a navigator measures the maximum altitude of a celestial body (usually the sun) as it crosses their local meridian. This occurs at local apparent noon and is used to determine the observer's latitude.