Chart Navigation & Plotting · Piloting — Vertical Sextant Angle

A lighthouse charted at 120 feet subtends a vertical sextant angle of 0°30'. Using distance(NM) = 0.565 × height(ft) ÷ angle(min), the distance off is:

Explanation

0°30' = 30'. Distance = 0.565 × 120 ÷ 30 = 67.8 ÷ 30 = 2.26 NM.

Authority: Bowditch (Pub. No. 9), Distance by Vertical Angle

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