The altitudes of a circumpolar star at culminations are 70° and 10°, both culminations being north of zenith. The latitude of the place, is A. 80° B. 70° C. 60° D. 40°

80°
70°
60°
40°

The correct answer is $\boxed{\text{C}}$, 60°.

A circumpolar star is a star that never sets or rises for an observer at a particular latitude. This is because the star’s declination is greater than the observer’s latitude. The declination of a star is its angular distance north or south of the celestial equator.

The altitude of a star is its angular distance above the horizon. The altitude of a circumpolar star at culmination is the maximum altitude that the star reaches in the sky.

The latitude of a place is the angle between the Earth’s equatorial plane and the vertical at that place.

The altitude of a circumpolar star at culmination is equal to the observer’s latitude plus the star’s declination.

In this case, the altitudes of the circumpolar star at culmination are 70° and 10°. This means that the star’s declination is 70° – 10° = 60°.

Therefore, the latitude of the place is 60°.

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