longitude method

longitude method

[′län·jə‚tüd ‚meth·əd]

(navigation)

In celestial navigation, the establishing of a line of position from the observation of the altitude of a celestial body by assuming a latitude (or longitude), and calculating the longitude (or latitude) through which the line of position passes, and the azimuth; the line of position is drawn through the point thus found, perpendicular to the azimuth.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.