JUNE 16, 1938.

FLIGHT.

597

sometimes convenient to do so Avhen working with certain tables. (Fig. 13) It is well known that the Mean Sun (which we cannot see, but
H.A.= IBOi 12 HOURS) 6 . M . T . - O O HOURS.

The Air Almanac publication is intended for work in the air, where accuracy to the finer limits for marine navigation is not wanted. Hence the data tabulated is given to the nearest 1' of arc only, or one nautical mile. For marine work, using the Nautical Almanac it is possible to work to 1/10 of a nautical mile
I8O"

MA.-9O"(6 M8S.)/ TS P I

I f

1H.A.=2JO"(I8MRS) ISMTOeHRS

G = Meridian of Greenwich 0 = Meridian of Observer X = Meridian of Body X

IHOUC| 22HOURS

H.A.-0(OOB*HRS.)

Figwhich is used for regulating clocks) differs from the True Sun (which we can see, and of which we can take observations and bearings) by an angleexpressed either in time or arcwhich is called " The Equation of Time" and which varies from day to day. In the Air Almanac the correction between Mean and Apparent Time, i.e., between the H.A. of the Mean and True Sun, is done for us, and the G.H.A. of the True Sun is tabulated in measure of arc (degrees and minutes) in units of G.M.T. The G.H.A. of the Moon and of four planets are similarly tabulated in G.M.T. In the case of the stars, in order not to print individual G.H.A. Tables for each of the fifty stars listed, the G.H.A. of any one star is found in two steps. First, the G.H.A. of y is tabulated at short intervals. Second, a westerly constant angle for each star, called the " Sidereal Hour Angle" (S.H.A.), measured from T is added. (Figs. 0 14 and 15.) The S.H.A. equals (360 R.A.), as the R.A. of any one star is measured eastwards from y and is constant. It will be seen that adding a complete revolution, or 360, does not alter the relative 0position of any body : i.e., one can always add or subtract 360 from an H.A. If the G.H.A. of a body is known, and the Greenwich longitude of any other meridian is known, it will be clear that, in order to find the L.H.A. of the body with respect to the other meridian, all that it is necessary to do is to apply the Greenwich Longitude of the meridian, in arc as read from the map or chart, to the G.H.A. adding if E, subtracting if W. (Figs. 16 and 17.)
Figs. 16 and 17.

L.H.A. .

OX =- G.H.A. Long. W.

L.H.A. = OX G.H.A. + Long. E.

Fig. 14.

G = Meridian of Greenwich. G.H.A.* = G.H.A. r + S.H.A.* --= G.H.A. r +

(36o-R.A.*)

this is an unnecessary refinement for air work, owing to the speed of aircraft and the lack of necessity of knowing the position so closely. The Air Almanac tabulates the Greenwich Hour Angle of the following bodies to the nearest 1' of arc, at intervals of four to five seconds of G.M.T. : (1) The Sun. * (2) The Moon. (3) The four planets most used in astronomical navigation, i.e., Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn. (4) 50 bright Stars. The Declinations of the above bodies are also tabulated, at convenient intervals of time. A list of the Right Ascension of each of the fifty stars and of the planets is also given : though a knowledge of the R.A. of these bodies is not necessary when working with the Air Almanac for the purpose of " working out sights," R.A. is, however, useful for other purposes and it has hence been included. It will be remembered that we want to find the theoretical Calculated Distance between our D.R. position and the G.P. of a body, in order to be able to compare it with an actual Observed Distance, which we obtain by taking the altitude of the body with a sextant. The Calculated Zenith Distance, ZX in Fig. 18, can be found by the use of the formula: . . hav. ZX = hav. (PX ~ PZ) + hav. 6, . : where hav. 0 = sin P X sin PZ hav. ZPX. This, perhaps, looks difficult, but, having got so far, let us see whether it is really as bad as it looks. Obtain an Air Almanac and a book of Nautical Tables (Inman's, Norie's, or Burton's). All the necessary tables are in them. Let us look again at the formula : (1) What is " hav." ? " Hav." is short for " haversine." There is no need to worry as to what it is, as long as we are able to use it. " Haversines " for ang'js are eiven in the tables.