Editing Position line

{{Unreferenced|auto=yes|date=December 2009}}
A '''position line''' or '''line of position''' ('''LOP''') is a [[line (geometry)|line]] (or, on the surface of the Earth, a [[curve]]) that can be both identified on a chart ([[nautical chart]] or [[aeronautical chart]]) and translated to the surface of the [[Earth]]. The intersection of a minimum of two position lines is a [[fix (position)|fix]] that is used in [[position fixing]] to identify a navigator's location.

There are several types of position line:
* [[Compass]] [[bearing (navigation)|bearing]] – the [[angle]] between [[north]] and the line passing through the compass and the point of interest
* [[Navigational transit|Transit]] – a line passing through the observer and two other reference points
* [[Piloting#Piloting_in_channels_and_rivers|Leading line]] – the line passing through two marks indicating a safe channel
* [[Leading lights]] – the line passing through two beacons indicating a safe channel
* [[Sector light]]s – the lines created by masked colored lights that indicate a safe channel

==See also==
{{Portal|Geography}}
* [[Coordinate line]]
* [[Intersection (aeronautics)]]
* [[Navigation]]
* [[Position circle]]
* [[Sight reduction]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Position Line}}
[[Category:Navigation]]
[[Category:Curves]]


{{Cartography-stub}}