Geodetic Astronomy

At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to: 1. explain the procedure for the determination of stellar azimuth using various Astro methods; 2. carry out independent and simultaneous determination of astronomic positions; and 3. justify the use of astronomic positions and directions.

Variations in celestial coordinate system. Timing with stop watch and chronometer, time conversion and variations. Determination of azimuth by hour angle of E-W stars near Elongation. Determination of hour angle of the sun. Computation by hour-angle methods of the sun and correction to astronomic azimuth. Other methods of determining astronomic azimuth. Determination of latitude by circum-meridian altitudes, programme for circum-meridian observations. Observations and computations for the independent determination of latitude and longitude. Selection of pair E-W stars. Simultaneous determination of latitude and longitude (ASTROFIX). Laplace equation and stations and geodetic uses of astronomic positions.