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> So instead of using
> the  altitudes directly, use their difference: 8.7 minutes of arc.

Ah, now I see.  Very clever.  If of you are 24 sm from the Hancock, and on
the beach, you are either in Gary Indiana, or Highland Park, IL.  The
Michigan City cooling tower would not be visible from Highland park, so it
must be Gary, nominally  N 41d 37.7', W 87d 20.0'.  Given a horizon 4-5
miles away, height of eye would be approx. 14 feet.

It looks like you're walking the beach in Gary Indiana.  At a steel mill
perhaps?  Interesting choice for a beach stroll. 

This is where I become deeply confused.  Where does the 10.7' figure for the
361' cooling tower come from?  The above location is approx. 23 sm from the
Michigan City cooling tower. (Reference NOAA Chart 14905.)  Therefore the
land base and shore would be below your horizon at 14 ft height of eye.  If
I use Bowditch table 15, "vertical angle between top of object and sea
horizon," you would be nominally 13 nm/15 sm away from the cooling tower
with an angle of 11'.   Not enough.  If use plane trig with the assumption
one could see the base/waterline, it works out  within a < 1 mile.

I have not checked out the separation angle yet, as I am very iffy about my
building lat/lon (derived from Street Atlas). What have I missed?

Bill

   

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