(Astronomy) the angular distance of a celestial point measured westward along the celestial equator from the zenith crossing; the right ascension for an observer at a particular location and time of day.
After 36 additional hoursangle of deflection reduced to about 30o.
2
For the longitude, the altitude of the sun must be ascertained before and after noon, and two hourangles must be measured.
3
There the captain fixed his position and used a chronometer to calculate his longitude, which he double-checked against his previous observations of hourangles.