Captain Owen on Circummeridian Altitudes. 163 
Times from apparent noon. Squares. Exampce. On 20th May, 1844, had ten alti- 
13”: 169 tudes of the sun, near noon, whose mean, when 
9.9 ei corrected, gave the altitude of the sun’s centre, 
6.1 0.6 65°.36/.5. 
36.6 
2.7 Lg 
5.4 
0.2 _— 
2.3 xf 
4.6 
6 36 
7.9 Lgl 
55.3 
9.3 2.8 
83-7 
Me 121. 
10)622.7 
60)62.97 
1.04 
a 23 
3.12 
21 
3/33 
65.36.5 
Meridian altitude, 65.39.83 
Z.D. 24.20.17 
Declination, 20. 6 
44.26.2 North lat. 
Remarks on the foregoing Practice. 
Ist. It precludes the necessity of using books at the place and 
time of observation, often very inconvenient, and gives immediate 
_ results, which is generally satisfactory, and saves time and trouble. 
2d. If the precise time were desired for the epoch of noon, it 
may be deduced from the observations generally, for the instant 
of the greatest altitude, and a special problem shall be given to 
reduce this last named to the meridian, or to noon. 
3d. Mariners generally commence their observations at seven 
bells, or 112", for their meridian observations. Now if they extend 
their observations to 122", this will always be sufficient for good 
equal altitudes, if the sun’s meridian altitude exceed 55°, and will 
very commonly preclude the necessity of observations earlier or 
later for the chronometers, and probably will give the precise 
epoch of noon, or of the object’s meridian passage, better; re- 
