Old instruments
Noon Sight
Direct answer
Noon Sight is a sequence of solar-altitude observations used to find the Sun's greatest altitude near local apparent noon.
Noon Sight is a solar meridian observation used in historical astronomy, timekeeping, or navigation.
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At a glance
- Found in
- Historical Almanacs & Instruments
- Related
- Latitude by Meridian Altitude, Longitude by Chronometer, Star Sight, Sun Sight
Noon Sight is a solar meridian observation used in historical astronomy, timekeeping, or navigation.
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The story behind Noon Sight
The noon sight became a familiar daily routine in traditional marine navigation.
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Why Noon Sight matters
Noon Sight matters because it offers a practical route to meridian altitude even when exact transit time is not known beforehand.
Noon Sight in practice: an example
A navigator watches the Sun climb, pause, and begin to descend while recording sextant altitudes.
Where readings of Noon Sight go wrong
Clock noon is rarely local apparent noon, and a single rushed maximum reading can miss the true culmination.
Sources and editorial method
Research references used for this entry include:
- National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency: The American Practical Navigator - Official modern reference for navigation principles, celestial observations, sight reduction, and navigational tables.
- U.S. Naval Observatory: Astronomical and Navigational Almanacs - Official descriptions of the Astronomical Almanac, Nautical Almanac, and their tabular data.
- Source
- The Great Almanac Dictionary
- Category
- Historical Almanacs & Instruments
- Last updated
- 2026-09-26
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More in Historical Almanacs & Instruments
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- Sight Reduction
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- Celestial Position Fix
- Dioptra
- Hourglass
- Marcq Saint-Hilaire Method
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Common questions
What is noon sight?
Noon Sight is a sequence of solar-altitude observations used to find the Sun's greatest altitude near local apparent noon.
What do people get wrong about noon sight?
Clock noon is rarely local apparent noon, and a single rushed maximum reading can miss the true culmination.
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