Course / Glossary

Celestial navigation glossary

Circle of equal altitude

Every place that sees a body at the same altitude: a circle centered on its GP.

Where the course teaches it

One altitude, a whole circle, in the module The circle of equal altitude. Place a body's ground position, and turn one altitude into a circle of position in miles.

Taught alongside it

Zenith
The point on the celestial sphere straight above you; its declination is your latitude. The opposite point is the nadir.
Celestial horizon
The great circle 90° from your zenith; altitudes are measured up from it.