Randy_
Member
Anyone know of a good book on celestial navigation? Looking for a book with the basics of theory and application. Bowditch is probably more than I need to start off with. Thanks.
Book On Celestial Navigation
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Ron in Drums PA
Member
Going somewhere Randy?[
]
]
Monty
Group Buy Coordinator
Building a starship[?][?][]
]
kirkfranks
Member
Randy,
I learned from my Grandfather with this book:
Celestial Navigation for Yachtsmen by Mary Blewitt. It is a quick read. Search Celestial Navigation on Amazon and it is there with some others that are also good. It is considered by purists as a bit of a cheat, but if you are looking for a "HOW TO" this gets it done and will let you try out that Sextant. It has been many a moon (pun intended) but I think this only teaches using the sun. If you want to use other stars you need to go to other methods.
I have shot noon sites with a retired navy captain and we both ran our calculations at the same time and I was about 5-10 minutes (on the clock) quicker with the final calculations and a plot than his traditional method. We were both showing the same results.
The largest problem to my understanding is that of getting the correct reference data. When I was at Mystic Seaport (CT) last year they mentioned that the National Observetory is no longer publishing the Astronomical Almanac which has all the times for the Sun and Stars. They said that it was last published long ago as it has officially been replaced by GPS. I know I much prefer the GPS myself[]
May your horizon always be clear.
I learned from my Grandfather with this book:
Celestial Navigation for Yachtsmen by Mary Blewitt. It is a quick read. Search Celestial Navigation on Amazon and it is there with some others that are also good. It is considered by purists as a bit of a cheat, but if you are looking for a "HOW TO" this gets it done and will let you try out that Sextant. It has been many a moon (pun intended) but I think this only teaches using the sun. If you want to use other stars you need to go to other methods.
I have shot noon sites with a retired navy captain and we both ran our calculations at the same time and I was about 5-10 minutes (on the clock) quicker with the final calculations and a plot than his traditional method. We were both showing the same results.
The largest problem to my understanding is that of getting the correct reference data. When I was at Mystic Seaport (CT) last year they mentioned that the National Observetory is no longer publishing the Astronomical Almanac which has all the times for the Sun and Stars. They said that it was last published long ago as it has officially been replaced by GPS. I know I much prefer the GPS myself[
]May your horizon always be clear.
LEAP
Member
Randy,
I'm a semi retired master mariner, I have quite a library on all aspects of navigation that I will not be using anytime in the near future. Send me a PM with your address and I'll send a few your way. You are right that Bowditch is a bit much for a recreational sailor. The last couple of versions have had most of the hands on information removed so if you can't get your hands on the 1981 versions or before I would not throw away the money. Duttons is a good book with enough background to understand the why as well as the what you are doing when you take a sight without going so far into the thoery that you need a PHD to understand it.
I'm a semi retired master mariner, I have quite a library on all aspects of navigation that I will not be using anytime in the near future. Send me a PM with your address and I'll send a few your way. You are right that Bowditch is a bit much for a recreational sailor. The last couple of versions have had most of the hands on information removed so if you can't get your hands on the 1981 versions or before I would not throw away the money. Duttons is a good book with enough background to understand the why as well as the what you are doing when you take a sight without going so far into the thoery that you need a PHD to understand it.
Randy_
Member
Originally posted by Ron in Drums PA
<br />Going somewhere Randy?[
Ron: They are doing a bunch of construction on the roads around here so I have to take alternative routes to almost every destination and I keep getting lost!![
]
Randy_
Member
Originally posted by Monty
<br />Building a starship[?][?][
Is that a new Berea kit??
Randy_
Member
Kirk: Thanks for the info. I did see that book mentioned on Amazon.com and the buyers comments pretty much mirrored yours. I'm as much interested in the theory as the "HOW TO" so that particular volume may not be the one I want to start off with. What would be your second choice??
Randy_
Member
Phil: Thanks for the offer and the recommendation.
I have a pretty good public library available to me and I would hate to have anything bad happen to your books......I don't have total confidence in the USPS!!
I'm going to visit the library Tuesday and pick up a copy of Dutton or have them order it for me.
Thanks, again.
LEAP
Member
Randy,
I have a pair of books for studying for the celestial portion of deck licenses it contains background review and example problems plus a reprint of a nautical almanac to work out the problems. You would be more than welcome to keep it. I've done all the license prep I'm ever going to do.
I have a pair of books for studying for the celestial portion of deck licenses it contains background review and example problems plus a reprint of a nautical almanac to work out the problems. You would be more than welcome to keep it. I've done all the license prep I'm ever going to do.
arioux
Member
Hi Randy,
This won't solve your navigation problem but it will certainly help you find the stars. It's free and used by many planetarium around the world. Just enter the date time and your coorrdonate in the software and it will show you your local sky with progression in real time or accelerate and their location (east, south etc...). Name of the major stars, planet and constellation. Great software to start learning about stars, planets and their movements in the sky. Great for the anyone with strong binoculars of small telescope.
http://stellarium.org/
Alfred
This won't solve your navigation problem but it will certainly help you find the stars. It's free and used by many planetarium around the world. Just enter the date time and your coorrdonate in the software and it will show you your local sky with progression in real time or accelerate and their location (east, south etc...). Name of the major stars, planet and constellation. Great software to start learning about stars, planets and their movements in the sky. Great for the anyone with strong binoculars of small telescope.
http://stellarium.org/
Alfred
Ron in Drums PA
Member
Originally posted by Randy_
<br />Originally posted by Ron in Drums PA
<br />Going somewhere Randy?[
Ron: They are doing a bunch of construction on the roads around here so I have to take alternative routes to almost every destination and I keep getting lost!![
You should read up on the mechanics of time warp continuum. Might be easier to get where you are going before the problems starts.
Randy_
Member
Phil: Again, my thanks for the offer. My interest is more of an educational nature than for actual practical application. I'm a long way from any blue water......only water I see on a regular basis is a nice shade of brown. I'm sure there a lot more folks in your neck of the woods that could utilize your books for real use. If you don't need the books any longer why don't you consider donating them to your local school or public library??
Once again, thanks for your most generous offer!!
Randy_
Member
Alfred: Thanks very much. Cool site!! Just so happens that I do have both a small reflector and refract or which cake from eBay and both were missing the locater software that originally came with the scopes.
Randy_
Member
Onlyest* thing I know about "warped" is Irish Bog Oak blanks from eBay and the sense of humor of a few folks here on IAP!! [
][]<b>*Note: For old "GUNSMOKE" fans.</b>
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