DCG2063-Field Astronomy

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL
ENGINEERING
DIPLOMA IN GEOMATIC

DCG2063 FIELD ASTRONOMY

PRACTICAL / LAB SHEET

CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT & EVALUATION SECTIONS

CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT & CAREER TRAINING DIVISION

DEPARTMENT OF POLYTECHNIC EDUCATION

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PREFACE

This Lab sheet edition is issued as a guide to efficient execution of

practical/ lab work for Diploma Geomatic course in Malaysia’s
Polytechnics.

It has been prepared and compiled with the assistance and advice of
the Geomatic Lab Sheets Committee.

Special credit to officers and personnel from various polytechnics who

contributed valuable information in the preparation process, the
Geomatics Academic Committee who reviewed large part of lab sheet
and the Curriculum & Evaluation Section in the Curriculum Development
& Career Training Division, Ministry of Education Malaysia
for providing us with a good environment and facilities to complete
this lab sheet.

Finally, an honorable mention goes to Pn Asuralyzah binti Salleh for her

ideas, understandings and supports on us in completing this lab sheet.

Alvadjurie B. Affandie
Kuching Polytechnic Sarawak

Stuart Otto Ak Wilson Munan

Kuching Polytechnic Sarawak

Noor Khairul Idham Bin Nordin

Kuantan Polytechnic Pahang

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Table of Content

Course Description

Lab sheet 1:
Perform sun observation for azimuth verification using extra meridian method.

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Course Description

COURSE : DCG2063 FIELD ASTRONOMY

CREDIT(S) : 3

PRE REQUISITE(S) : NONE

SYNOPSIS

FIELD ASTRONOMY equips students with knowledge on the position of celestial bodies
such as the moon, sun, stars and planets with reference to earth. This study is important to
land surveyors in field works such as determining the azimuth in land boundaries, checking
angles in long traverse and determining geodetic positions or geographic points on earth.

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES (CLO)

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

1. Conduct solar observation for azimuth verification using extra meridian method.
(P4,PLO2)

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Labsheet 1 : Perform sun observation for azimuth verification using

extra meridian method.

OUTCOMES RTA : 30 hours

 Students should be able to conduct and calculate sun observation

EQUIPMENTS
a. Optical theodolite / Electronic Theodolite / Total Station
b. Sun filter
c. Tripod
d. Sun observation form “G-1”
e. Target for Reference mark
f. Latest Star almanac
g. Calculator

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WORKING PROCEDURES

1. Choose any stations in your closed traverse to be the ‘Station of Observation’ and the other
adjacent station to it as ‘Reference Station/Object (RO)’ or TR. The chosen station must be
clear from any obstruction that may block the view to the sun in the morning or evening. Then,
fill in the form as follows:

2. In face left, set the average bearing of your chosen station as the TR value and target to the
prism.

3. Then, put sun-filter to the telescope of your total station, and target to the sun. Position of the
sun on the left side of the crosshair as shown in the sun observation form.

4. Record the time, bearing and vertical angle in the sun observation form.
5. Continue to position the sun on the right side of the cross hair as follows and record the time,
bearing and vertical angle.

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6. Then turn the total station into face right, and continue steps 3 to 5 but the sun is first
positioned on the right side of the crosshair and then on the left side of the crosshair. Refer
the following Figure.

7. Then, with the instrument still in face right, target to TR (prism) and record the bearing.

8. Repeat for set 2 (second observation), by following steps 1 to 8 and record the time,
horizontal and vertical reading.

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9. Once the observations were completed, use reference K2 (Coordinate Table), Azimuth
calculation procedure and latest star almanac in order to assist you to complete the
calculation of finding the Bearing Average Grid to Reference mark.

Diagram 1.0 below shows an example of a complete sun observation form.

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Diagram 1.0

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PROCEDURE FOR CALCULATING THE SUN OBSERVATION AZIMUT

1. Time Average
Total of the 4 hours of observations, and then divided by 4. Next, minus 8 hours. (because of
the time difference Malaysian standard international time @ Universal Time is 8 hours)
Example :
Set 1 Set 2
hh.mmss hh.mmss
09:06:48 09:08:21
09:06:53 09:08:27
09:07:12 09:09:01
09:07:19 09:09:05
Jumlah Waktu 36:28:12 36:34:54
Purata Waktu 9:07:03 9:08:44
Purata Waktu – 8.00 1:07:03 1:08:44

2. Horizon average
Sum of the four observations bearing on the sun (a). If the reading on the horizon right face
greater than 180°, the value of a minus 360° = (b). If the reading on the horizon right face
smaller than 180°, value a must added of 360° = (b). To get the average value, the value of b
is dividing by 4.
Example :
Set 1 Set 2
Ufuk Ufuk
(ddd.mmss) (ddd.mmss)
P.Ki T.R
114.4134 114.4737
114.0705 114.1257
P.Ka 294.0816 294.1509
294.4332 294.5026
T.R
Jumlah (a) 817.4027 818.0609
+/-360° (b) 457.4027 458.0609
Purata ufuk 114.2507 114.3132

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3. T.R average
Sum of the two observations TR (c). If the reading of TR in the right face greater than 180°,
the value of c minus 180° = (d). If the reading of TR in the right face smaller than 180°, the c
plus with 180° = (d). To get the average value, the value of d is divisible by 2.
Example :
Set 1 Set 2
Ufuk Ufuk
(ddd.mmss) (ddd.mmss)
P.Ki T.R 7.2653 7.2653

P.Ka

T.R 187.2649 187.2652

Jumlah (c) 194.5342 194.5345
+/-180° (d) 14.5342 14.5345
Purata TR 7.2651 7.2653

4. Altitude average.
The circle left altitude (e) = 90° - vertical angle
The circle right altitude (e) = vertical angle - 270°
Total of the four vertical angle (f) and then divided by 4.
Example :
Set 1 Set 2

Tinjah Tinjah
90° - e / 90° - e /
(ddd.mmss) (ddd.mmss)
e - 270° e - 270°
P.Ki T.R (e) (e)

69.0513 20.5447 68.4410 21.1550

69.0356 20.5604 68.4233 21.1727
P.Ka 291.0042 21.0042 291.2553 21.2553
291.0212 21.0212 291.2554 21.2554
Jumlah (f) 83.5345 85.2504
Purata tinjah 20.5826 21.2116

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5. Refractive & Bedalihat

The following formula is used to obtain the Refractive & Bedalihat
 41.4105  8.8  cos( PurataAlti tud ) 
 
Biasan & Bedalihat   Tan( PurataAlti tud ) 
3600
Example:
Altitude average = Purata Tinjah

Set 1: Altitude average = 20° 58’ 26”

 41.4105  8.8  cos(2058'26" ) 
 
 Tan(2058'26" ) 
Biasan & Bedalihat 
3600
Using calculator
41.4105+(8.8cos20°58°26°)=49.62744409
÷tan20°58°26°=129.4602241
÷3600=0.035961173
Change the above to d.m.s 0°2°9.46; Round up 0° 02’ 09”

Set 2 : Altitude average = 21° 21’ 16”

 41.4105  8.8" cos(2121'16" ) 
 
 Tan(2121'16" ) 
Biasan & Bedalihat 
3600
Answer = 0° 02’ 07”

6. Altitude adjustment
The adjusted altitude obtained from revenue minus Altitude Average – Refractive & Bedalihat
Example:
Set 1 Set 2
Purata Altitud (H) 20.5826 21.2116
Biasan & Bedalihat 0.0209 0.0207
Altitud Dilaras 20.5617 21.1909
7. Origin Coordinate N/S
Refer origin coordinate cassini soldner table at north state area. (“Pekeliling Bil6/2009-
Lampiran G-1”)
Example: 0 m

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8. Station N/S
Enter the coordinates for the observed (this value is obtained from the PA, or if none, enter
the estimated value of 1000 m)
Example: -79462.554 m

9. Total/Sel. N/S
Total/Sel. N/S is Step 7 value + Step 8 value
Example:
0 m + (-79462.554 m) = -79462.554 m

10. Total / Sel x 0.03256

Step 9 value times to 0.03256
Example:
How to press the calculator :
-79462.554 x 0.03256 = -2587.300758
÷3600 = -0.718694655  change to dms
-0° 43’ 07”  Total Answer/Sel x 0.03256

11. Origin Latitude N

Refer to the coordinate origin Geography, at the Latitude column “(Pekeliling Bil6/2009-
Lampiran G-1)”.
Example: 5° 57’ 55”

12. Station Latitude N

Total value of Step 10 + Step 11
Example:
d.mmss
Jumlah / Sel. U/S x 0.03256 -0.4307
G. Lintang Origin U 5.5755
G. Lintang Stesen U 5.1448

13. Origin Coordinate E/W

Refer to the coordinate origin in space Cassini Soldner East (Circular Bil6/2009-Reference G-
1)
Example: 0 m

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14. Station E/W

Enter the coordinates for the observed (this value is obtained from the PA, or if none, enter
the estimated value of 1000 m)
Example: 1826.955 m

15. Total/Sel. E/W

Total/Sel. T/B are value of Step 13 + Step 14
Example:
0 m + 1826.955 m = 1826.955 m
16. Total/Sel x 0.03246
Value of Step 15 times to 0.03246
Example:
How to press the calculator :
-1826.955 x 0.03246 = 59.3029593
÷3600 = 0.016473044 change to dms
0° 0’ 59”  Total Value/Sel x 0.03246

17. Sel. Longitude x Sain Latitude

Value of Step 16 x sin Step 12 Latitude Station of the U
Example:
How to press the calculator :
0°0°59° sin 5°14°48° = 0°0°5.4°  Round up = 0.0005

18. E (-) / W (+) Tirusan

Step 17 If the value is positive, then the value of tirusan is negative.
Step 17 If the value is negative, then the value of tirusan is positive.
Example:
d.mmss
Sel. G. Bujur X Sain G. Lintang +0.0005
Tirusan -0.0005

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19. Declination at ark.

Before calculating declination at Ark, advance to get the declination at 0 hours UT and the
value of the difference. This value can be computed based on Malaysia's Almanac Survey
(AUM). Declination value at 0 hours UT can be taken directly from the AUM as at the date of
observation. The value of the difference is the product of the average time spent Set 1 and
Set 2 with the value of v in the space deck in AUM.
Example:
Observations made on January 18, 2010
See in AUM:

HB UT R Dek v
h j j m s ° ‘ “ “
18 0 7 49 11.5 -20 36 22 30

Isn 6 50 10.7 -20 33 20 31

12 51 09.8 -20 30 16 31

18 52 08.9 -20 27 11 31

At the date 18/01/2010,

the declination @ declension (Deck) at UT: 0 hours = -20 ° 36 '22 "
and at that point, the value of v = 30 "

UT time difference with the observation time is as follows:

Set 1 : Time average = 1:07:03
How to count the value of the difference of time:
(Time average x value of v) ÷3600
(1°07°03° x 30) ÷ 3600 = 33.53” @ 0.0034

Set 2 : Time average = 1:08:44

How to count the value of the difference of time:
(Time average x value of v) ÷3600
(1°08°44° x 30) ÷ 3600 = 33.53” @ 0.0034
So, declination at Ark = Value Deck at UT 0 hours + Value difference
Example :
Set 1 Set 2
d.mmss d.mmss
Sudutistiwa pada 0 jam UT -20.3622 -20.3622
Selisih 0.0034 0.0034
Sudutistiwa pada waktu penilikan -20.3548 -20.3548

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20. Sun azimuth calculated

To find the Azimuth of the sun is calculated, the following formula is used:

cos Az 
sin   sin  sin  
cos  cos 
  Sudutistiw a @ Deklinasi
  G.L int angStesenU
  AltitudDiL aras

21. Reference Marks Real (average TR + Az - Average to sun)

Real TR = TR + Azimuth sun average calculated - Average horizon
Real TR = value + value Step 3 Step 20 - the Step 2
Example:
Set 1 Set 2
d.mmss d.mmss
Purata TR 7.2651 7.2653
Az matahari yang dikira 114.2502 114.3122
Purata ufuk 114.2507 114.3132
Tanda Rujuk Sebenar (Purata TR + Az – Purata ke matahari 7.2646 7.2643

22. Level
The value of this level should not be included

23. Tirusan
Enter a tirusan calculated in Step 18.

24. Bearing grid TR

Grid Bearing the TR obtained from the sum of Step 21 to Step 23.

Example:
Set 1 Set 2
d.mmss d.mmss
Tanda Rujuk Sebenar (Purata TR + Az – Purata ke matahari 7.2646 7.2643
Aras 0 0
Tirusan -0.0005 -0.0005
Bearing grid TR 7.2641 7.2638

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25. Average Bearing Grid to Reference Mark

To get the average value of the TR Bearing Grid is to add both the grid bearing TR and then
divided by 2.

Example:
Set 1 Set 2
d.mmss d.mmss
Bearing grid TR 7.2641 7.2638
Jumlah brg Grid TR 14.5319
Purata Bearing Grid ke Tanda Rujuk 7.2640

RESULTS

a. Procedures of work (observation and calculation) must be based on “Lampiran G,

PKPUP Bil.3/2003” as attached.
b. All observation must be recorded in “Cerapan Matahari bagi Azimuth” form as in
“Lampiran G-1, PKPUP Bil.3/2003”.
c. On normal condition, at least 10 set of accepted sun observation must be submitted
within 15 weeks of the practical session.

REPORT

At the end of this practical, student must writing report as followings:

i) Field work title
ii) Purpose / Objective
iii) Equipment used ( with pictures / sketch)
iv) Field work procedure
v) Outcome
vi) Analyzed / calculation data (if need)
vii) Comment / Conclusion

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ASSESSMENTS

This practical session contributes 35% of total continuous assessment. A field test will be
conducted to each student at the end of the field session based on:

a. Sun observation
b. Calculation

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