The
Complete On-Board Celestial Navigator
Once the universal system of navigation out of sight of land, celestial
navigation is now more often a backup to electronic navigation methods, chief
among them the Global Positioning System (GPS). However, among cruising sailors
the use of a sextant to locate one's position on the ocean is still a skill
treated with pride and respect. U.S. Power Squadron courses in celestial
navigation remain popular for this reason, and because it's wise to have
a backup method of navigation if your GPS receiver malfunctions. The Complete
On-Board Celestial Navigator responds to these realities with the ideal package
for today's market. Traditionally, the navigator would learn sight-taking
skills from an instructional book; identify stars or planets for "shooting"
sights using a graphic or tabular star finder; obtain the precise position
in the heaven of the chosen star, planet, moon, or sun at the time of the
shooting from an annual nautical almanac; and "reduce" the sextant sighting
using sight reduction tables. All these components together add up to an
unwielding package.
Celestial
Navigation in a Nutshell by Hewitt Schlereth
From Book News, Inc.
In this guide, Schlereth draws on his experience as a sailor to explain
how to navigate any stretch of sea using only a hand-held sextant, a watch,
a plotting sheet, and a copy of the Nautical Almanac. The book offers instruction
on how to take sights by the sun, moon, stars and planets, and discusses
the advantages and disadvantages of each method. Common errors are reviewed,
and suggestions given for improving accuracy. Several examples and situational
illustrations are included. No bibliography.Book News, Inc.®, Portland,
OR
Book Description
Learn to plot your own course by looking to the sky.
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The
Complete On-Board Celestial Navigator
