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← HistoryWhich systematic error affects celestial navigation using a sextant during a long voyage when temperature varies considerably?
A)Index error increases from frame distortion✓
B)Dip varies from changing atmospheric pressure
C)Parallax increases affecting lunar distance
D)Refraction decreases affecting solar altitude
💡 Explanation
When temperature varies, differential thermal expansion of the sextant frame causes index error because the mirrors shift slightly, altering reflected angles. Therefore increased index error affects navigation, rather than dip, parallax, or refraction, which are caused by atmospheric conditions or observation angles.
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