Which navigational error increases most when a 18th-century mariner sights the sun using a sextant from tilting ship?

💡 Explanation

When observing the sun from a tilting ship, inconsistent vertical alignment causes error in measuring the sun's altitude, because the angle of incidence and reflection changes constantly impacting perceived angle. Therefore observed altitude error results, rather than longitude, declination or index mirror errors which rely on other factors.

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