Atmospheric refraction: Measurement of the constant of refraction
 

The constant of refraction, k, may be measured by using the transits of a circumpolar star. It has been seen that the effect of refraction is to displace the star towards the zenith along the vertical through star and zenith. Thus, in figure 1, an observer in latitude φ notes that a star has upper and lower culminations at A and B respectively. Let the observed zenith distances of A and B be ζ_A and ζ_B respectively. In the absence of refraction, the upper and lower transits would have been seen to be at positions C and D on the celestial sphere, where PC = PD = 90 − δ, δ being the star’s declination.
Note: if the declination of the star was such that the upper transit had been north of the zenith, the observed path of the star would have intersected the parallel of declination it would have followed in the absence of refraction.

Figure 1. Measurement of an angle of refraction.

R = k tan ζ........(1)

Now by equation (1),

CA = k tan ζ_A          DB = k tan ζ_B

so that we have
ZC = ζ_A + k tan ζ_A       ZD = ζ_B + k tan ζ_B.
But
ZC = PC − PZ = 90 − δ − (90 − ∅) = ∅ − δ.
Hence,
∅ − δ = ζ_A + k tan ζ_A.......... (2)
Similarly,
ZD = ZP + PD = 90 − ∅ + 90 − δ = 180 − ∅ − δ
so that
180 − ∅ − δ = ζ_B + k tan ζ_B.......... (3)
If the observer’s latitude were accurately known, the two equations (2) and (3) in the two unknowns δ and k could be solved to yield values of δ and k. But because of small changes in the Earth’s crust, small variations take place in the latitude of the telescope used. In practice, therefore, at least two circumpolar stars are observed, within a short period of time, so that two more equations are obtained, namely
........(4)

...........(5)
The four equations (2)–(5) are now solved to give values of δ, δ', ∅ and k.