What does LHA stand for in navigation terms?

LHA stands for Local Hour Angle, which is a crucial concept in celestial navigation and astronomy. It refers to the angle between the observer's meridian and the meridian in which a celestial body is located. This angle is significant because it helps in determining the position of a celestial object in relation to the observer's location. By knowing the Local Hour Angle, navigators can calculate the exact time when a particular celestial body, such as the Sun or a star, will be at its highest point in the sky (culmination).

In celestial navigation, accurate measurements of the Local Hour Angle, along with declination, allow navigators to plot positions on a celestial sphere and effectively use sight reductions to determine their geographic position. Understanding LHA is essential for performing celestial navigation tasks, especially when using a sextant to obtain altitudes of celestial bodies. This makes it a fundamental concept in navigation practices that rely on the positions of celestial bodies.