Question

today, modern technology, such as the global positioning system, is widely used for navigational purposes, including guiding ships at sea and spacecraft in outer space. however, modern systems work by transmitting data, so the possibility of a communications failure or electrical shutdown exists. sextants are not powered by electricity. they wont fail if computers are temporarily offline. for these reasons, nasa made the decision to use them as emergency backup navigation tools. during the apollo 8 mission, astronauts used stars, the moon, and earth to help navigate. back on earth, nasa mission control compared the measurements made by the sextant to computerized measurements to check the accuracy of the tool. encouraged by the results, nasa continues to train astronauts, including those on the international space station, in the use of the sextant for current and future missions. making connections enter your answer. apply research how you can use a sextant to determine your latitude. write a step - by - step procedure below. check your answer.

Explanation:

Step1: Set up the sextant

Hold the sextant with the index arm at zero. Sight the horizon through the horizon glass.

Step2: Measure the altitude of the sun (or a star)

On a clear day, use the index mirror to bring the sun's image down to the horizon. Lock the index arm at the point where the sun's lower limb touches the horizon.

Step3: Correct for refraction and parallax (if necessary)

For celestial bodies other than the sun, use tables to correct for atmospheric refraction. For the sun, also correct for parallax (difference in apparent position due to Earth's radius).

Step4: Use the formula for latitude

If using the sun at solar noon: Latitude = 90° - (solar altitude + solar declination (from almanac)) if in the Northern Hemisphere (adjust signs for Southern Hemisphere). For stars, use similar principles with star charts and declination values.

Answer:

1. Set up the sextant: Hold with index arm at zero, sight horizon.
2. Measure altitude: For sun, bring image to horizon; lock index arm.
3. Correct for refraction/parallax: Use tables (varies by celestial body).
4. Calculate latitude: Use formula (e.g., Latitude = 90°−(solar altitude + solar declination) for sun at noon in Northern Hemisphere).