Astronavigation - what do I need to take besides a sextant?

[Porthandbuoy]

I was just about to do a google for that site - everything you need is on there. Is it your site?

Good cheap kindle book here as well...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Astro-Navig...?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1427950063&sr=1-2

Yes, my site.

I find Andrew Evan's "Sextant User's Guide" an almost idiot-proof intro to taking a sunsight. He's recently published a book aimed at single-handed sailors. He mentions my website in the book and I now host his pdf. Sextant User's Guide. He's a nice guy with a phenomenal number of single-handed miles under his keel.

 

[Jamesuk]

EZ almanac: priceless well £10.49 for iPad. Worth every penny

 

[BelleSerene]

EZ almanac: priceless well £10.49 for iPad. Worth every penny

Perhaps what's priceless is the idea of using a toy that contains a GPS to reduce your sextant sights!

 

[BelleSerene]

EZ almanac: priceless well £10.49 for iPad. Worth every penny

Perhaps what's priceless is the idea of using a toy that contains a GPS to reduce your sextant sights!

 

[harry potter]

Sight reduction tables can be downloaded here: http://msi.nga.mil/NGAPortal/MSI.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=msi_portal_page_62&pubCode=0013

Thank you. Next time we cross the Atlantic I'll remember where to find these without having to buy them. Current ones on board sadly out of date.

 

[capnsensible]

Tim Bartlet Astronavigatin book is very good.

Is it just me that thinks what is the point of bothering with astro if you are gonna use some sort of app or calculator programme?? Bit bonkers, I reckon.

Maybe its because I can add up and take away......

Mind you, that Mary Blewitt book does read like you need an Intergalactic Starship Commander badge before you understand any of it.....

 

[alant]

Tim Bartlet Astronavigatin book is very good.

Is it just me that thinks what is the point of bothering with astro if you are gonna use some sort of app or calculator programme?? Bit bonkers, I reckon.

Maybe its because I can add up and take away......

Mind you, that Mary Blewitt book does read like you need an Intergalactic Starship Commander badge before you understand any of it.....

I like Cunliffe, probably cos I don't want to buy another one.

 

[capnsensible]

I like Cunliffe, probably cos I don't want to buy another one.

I use both and am reckless with money.

 

[TQA]

Is it just me that thinks what is the point of bothering with astro if you are gonna use some sort of app or calculator programme?? Bit bonkers, I reckon.

...

Nope totally agree, but I did use a programmable calculator because it was faster and I thought there would be less chance of me making a silly mistake. I did also do it without the calculator every so often to begin with but after a year and a few successful landfalls stopped.

 

[GHA]

Is it just me that thinks what is the point of bothering with astro if you are gonna use some sort of app or calculator programme?? Bit bonkers, I reckon.

I found it quite handy for just working on getting decent sights, really quick to check if you're numbers are miles off without having to go through the process by hand. Then with a bit more confidence you can move on to doing the whole lot on your own.

 

[snowleopard]

The key to doing astro with tables is to have a well-designed sight reduction form. For a start, unless you are going long-distance, your sights are likely to have North declination and North EP so you can cut out a lot of the options. If you make sure the entries on the form have the same lables as the entries in the book your chances of getting the right answer are far higher.

One recommendation - make sure your crew know that the sextant is not to be taken out of its box until they have been trained to use it properly. I lent mine to SWMBO to watch the eclipse. When I came back it was on the table mirror side down!!

 

[Jamesuk]

Perhaps what's priceless is the idea of using a toy that contains a GPS to reduce your sextant sights!

No it has all the books and tables so yiu can reduce your luggage load from 7kg to 1kg (the sextant)

The nautical almanac is up to date Nd the sight reduction tables are their too. Its brilliant.

Sure it will double check your calculations too

 

[emnick]

Check out youtube for "getting started in celestial navigation" the basics explained in video 1 and gets more complex as it goes on.

I found it helpful

 

[Daydream believer]

You will need an accurate source of the time. A watch is fine. I glued mine to the plastic Ebbco I used so I could take the site and note the time without having to put the sextant down

Must be a nuisance on your wrist all day

 

[TQA]

Must be a nuisance on your wrist all day

Stopped wearing a watch when I retired,

There was a small ceremony involving an anvil and a sledge hammer.

 

[Daydream believer]

Stopped wearing a watch when I retired,

There was a small ceremony involving an anvil and a sledge hammer.

Dunno about the watch , i think i lost the calendar as well. Never know what day of the week it is