Publisher's Synopsis
Enjoy learning the art of celestial navigation without delving too deeply into esoteric topics. A gentle introduction for beginners, but with valuable insights for more seasoned practitioners. Covers everything needed to understand the core concepts of celestial navigation and the basic procedures for plotting a position. Includes 3D color visual aids and step-by-step explanations of each type of sight reduction using the commonly used nautical almanac and Pub. HO 249 sight reduction tables. Can also be used as a quick reference with concise, color-coded instructions. This is the book used in John Kretschmer's celestial navigation course.
Covers:
- Greenwich hour angle, declination, local hour angle, altitude, zenith distance and azimuth
- Intercept Method and assumed position
- Geographical position, circles of equal altitude, lines of position, a-value
- How to use a Nautical Almanac and Sight Reduction Tables
- Angle and time math instruction
- Celestial and navigational coordinate systems
- Sextants and how to time a sight
- Detailed, step-by-step instructions for deriving sight reductions
- Estimating latitude and longitude with Noon sights
- Examples of sight reductions of the Sun, Moon, planets and stars
- How to plot lines of position, fixes and running fixes
- Includes easy-to-use sight reduction forms designed for novices
- Forms for noon sight, sight reduction, sight planning, and meridian passage of the Sun
- Instructions for using the Weems and Plath Star Finder 2102-d
