1,322. The Angle of the Latitude’s Course

Hilchos Kiddush HaChodesh 16:11

The angle of the latitude’s course is as follows: If the latitude’s course is ten degrees, its angle is 52 minutes; if the course is 20 degrees, its angle is 1 degree, 43 minutes; if the course is 30 degrees, its angle is 2 degrees, 30 minutes; if 40 degrees, the angle is 3 degrees, 13 minutes; if 50 degrees, the angle is 3 degrees, 50 minutes; if 60 degrees, the angle is 4 degrees, 20 minutes; if 70 degrees, the angle is 4 degrees, 42 minutes; if 80 degrees, the angle is 4 degrees, 55 minutes; if 90 degrees, the angle is 5 degrees.

Hilchos Kiddush HaChodesh 16:12

When the course of the latitude has both ones and tens, calculate the increase per degree as we previously discussed regarding the courses of the sun and the moon. Let’s say, for example, that the course of the latitude is 53 degrees. We already said (in halacha 16:11) that when the course is 50 degrees, the angle is 3 degrees, 50 minutes, and when the course is 60 degrees, the angle is 4 degrees, 20 minutes. There are therefore 30 minutes between these points, which equals three minutes per degree. Therefore, the angle for a course of 53 degrees is 3 degrees, 59 minutes. The same procedure is followed in all similar cases.