Determination of Gyro Error

Gyro error by Polaris

used in Northern latitudes between the
equator and 65 oN.
True azimuth of Polaris is extracted from the
Nautical Almanac, and compared to the
observed azimuth of Polaris.

Determination of Gyro Error

Azimuth of the Sun:
Similar to the sun amplitude sight, but can be
done any time of the day. The true azimuth
of the sun is calculated using a sight reduction
form, and compared to the measured value of
true azimuth.
Calculations are more involved since a
complete sight reduction is required.

Compass Deviation by Azimuth

Solution by ABC
A = Tan Lat x Cot Ha
B = Tan Dec x Cosec Ha
C = A + B
Cot Zn = C x Cos Lat.

A = Tan Lat / Tan Ha

B = Tan Dec / Sin Ha

NOTE: A is named opposite to Lat except when

Hour angle is between 90o and 270o.
B is always named the same as declination.

Problem # 1. M/V MNTC in position 45o 22N and 125o 10E

observed the sun bearing 229o PSC. Declination is
2o 54S and LHA is 65o 27. If variation of the locality is
24oE, what is the deviation of the standard compass?
Solution: by ABC
A = Tan Lat
x
Cot Ha
= Tan 45o 22 x Cot 65o 27
= 1.013
x
0.457
= 0.463 S
B = Tan Dec
x
Cosec Ha
= Tan 2o 54
x
Cosec 65o 27
= 0.051
x
1.099
= 0.056 S

C = A
+
B
= 0.463 S + 0.056 S
= 0.519 S
Cot Zn = C
x
Cos Lat
= 0.519 x
Cos 45o 22
= 0.519 x
0.703
= .365
Zn
= S 70o W or 250oT
T = 250o
V=
24oE (-)
M = 226o
D=
3oW (+)
C = 229o

Problem # 2. M/V MNTC in position 37o 36N and 047o 50W

observed the sun bearing 289.5o PSC. Declination is
28o 59.1N and LHA is 41o 10.4. If the variation of the
locality is 22.5oW, what is the deviation of the standard
compass?
Solution:
by ABC
A =
Tan Lat
/
Tan Ha
=
Tan 37o 36
/
Tan 41o 10.4
=
0.770
/
0.875
=
0.880 S
B
=
Tan Dec
/
Sin Ha
=
Tan 28o 59.1 /
Sin 41o 10.4
=
0.554
/
0.658
=
0.842 N

C =
=
=
Cot Zn

A
0.880 S
0.038 S
= C
x
= 0.038 x
= 0.038 x
= 0.030
= S 88.3o W
T
V
M
D
C

B
(different names)
0.842 N
Cos Lat
Cos 37o 36
0.792
or 268.3oT

= 268.3o
= 22.5oW (+)
= 290.8o
=
1.2oE (-)
= 289.6o