Celestial Navigation

[cla6665]

Hi all, I'd like to learn the art of celestial navigation. What would be a good beginners book on the subject?

Thank you very much

[Astrid]

You could try Celestial Navigation for Yachtsmen,

Amazon.com: Celestial Navigation for Yachtsmen (9780070059283): Mary Blewitt: Books

[Adelie]

Originally Posted by Astrid

You could try Celestial Navigation for Yachtsmen,

Amazon.com: Celestial Navigation for Yachtsmen (9780070059283): Mary Blewitt: Books

+1

You will also want to get the nautical almanac for this year The Nautical Almanac for the Year

sight reduction tables, volumes 2&3 of HO#249, PUB. 249 Sight Reduction Tables for Air Navigation

and a cheap plastic sextant Davis Master Sextant Mark 15

[zopi]

Try this...google search for celestial navigation in a teacup..a free book meant to make it easy to understand..read that, and get yourself a good sextant..Astra IIIb or suchlike..the higher quality instrument will outlast you by several generations and is worth the $$$

The teacup book will get you on track pretty quick..once you can shoot a noonsight, the battle is half won..

Do not pick up a copy of dutton's and try to learn from it...good reference material, but does not teach well..

[svcambria]

Once upon a time, in VHS, was a lesson by William F. Buckley, Jr,. the fellow who wrote several books on his cruises. It was amazingly succinct in describing what it was all about and how to go about doing it. Worth looking for to rent (as well as renting a VHS player)...

Michael

[Kapena]

Do it all for free.

You can get the almanac on line for free
The Astronomical Almanac Online -- Welcome

You don't need the sight reduction tables if you have a computer or calculator handy. If you want to do it the traditional way then the tables are also available on line.
Maritime Safety Information

AND you can also learn celestial navigation online for free. Celestial Navigation Net
Ignore the hiatus and hit the practice button. This is an awesome site.

Lastly...I'd give you my sextant for free except I gave it away some time ago.

[svcambria]

Originally Posted by Kapena

Do it all for free.

You can get the almanac on line for free
The Astronomical Almanac Online -- Welcome
...

I tried this URL - nice idea to get an almanac downloaded - but I couldn't figure out where the download (or even the on-line function) features were. How does one download this?

Michael

[Kapena]

They changed the site... some stuff is still free (under contents) but they want you to purchase it from the printing office.
Here's a free download. 2011 Nautical Almanac specs and eBook specifications - CNET Download.com

Here's another. 2011 Nautical Almanac Download, Free 2011 Nautical Almanac 2011 Download

Both cases I did not download...I don't bother with this stuff anymore.