This book acts as a manual for the ancient methods of navigating by the stars, which continue to provide the sailor or pilot with a timeless means of determining location. Despite the prevalence of GPS, a comprehensive set of formulae that can be evaluated on any inexpensive scientific calculator in the event of a catastrophic software or systems failure is a vital failsafe. It also serves as a living link to centuries of explorers from centuries past. Beginning with the basics of positional astronomy, this guide moves on to the more complex math necessary to understand the ephemerides, tables showing the future positions of the stars and planets. These astronomical almanacs were the satellite navigation of their day. The objective of this book is twofold: to provide the reader with a concise, comprehensible manual on positional astronomy as it applies to astro-navigation and to furnish the concise algorithms for finding the position of the Sun and various navigational stars at any given instant. In a world where too many mariners and aeronauts rely solely on technology and are vulnerable to solar flares, electrical issues, and the like, this knowledge can be a life-saving backup, not to mention a fascinating study in its own rights. Included is an exact mathematical way to determine your position in the air or on the sea far more quickly and accurately than by using the old celestial navigational method, without even needing to know or understand the underlying mathematics. There is even a section that teaches how to measure the azimuth of a star using an analog wrist watch so if a sextant gets damaged, locating position is still possible. This book offers mathematicians and adventurers a way to determine position when the skies go dark. The U.S. Navy has recently realized that their electronic navigation systems are vulnerable to cyberattack, and as a result has instructed the Naval Academy to begin teaching celestial navigation again.

Written in plain language, 'Astro Navigation Demystified' aims to make the art of astro navigation easy and enjoyable to learn.

Applying Mathematics to Astro Navigation. This addition to the 'Astro Navigation Demystified' series focuses on the mathematical principles upon which astro / celestial navigation is based and it will appeal to anyone with an interest in these subjects whether they be navigators or mathematicians. A must for navigation course tutors and mathematics teachers.Few navigation books describe techniques that involve first principles; instead they mostly describe methods which rely upon the use of tables of computed data and rote-learned procedures. There is obviously very little educational value in such techniques; far better that students of the subject should be helped to discover and apply the underlying principles for themselves. Accordingly, the approach adopted in this book involves putting the student in the place of a navigator who has no automated navigation equipment, nautical almanac, chronometer or 'Sat. Nav.' and who must therefore discover a means of navigating without them. To this end, readers are guided through a method of calculating a position on the earth's surface by the application of spherical trigonometry without reliance upon equipment other than an angle measuring device such as a simple clinometer.Section two of the book, which is very popular with teachers and college lecturers, contains activities that are designed to provide opportunities to consolidate the knowledge acquired and provide ideal starting points for 'open-ended' projects. They are suitable for people with a wide range of interests from seafarers and sailing enthusiasts to students of mathematics and nautical studies. Note. The terms celestial navigation and astro navigation are generally regarded as synonymous.Other books in the Astro Navigation Demystified Series: Astro Navigation Demystified. The ultimate book of the series; it is a complete course in astro / celestial navigation. This unique self-teach course comprehensively covers all relevant elements of the examination syllabuses of the main sailing associations. Part one ranges from simple explanations of the basic principles through to detailed expositions of the important aspects of the subject. Part two provides a comprehensive coverage of the use of rapid sight reduction techniques for position fixing. Celestial Navigation. The Ultimate CourseThe traditional method of celestial navigation involving the use of spherical trigonometry to calculate a vessel's position is comprehensively taught in this book. At first sight, the term 'spherical trigonometry' might seem quite daunting but with the knowledge of just two formulas and with a little practice of the methods explained in this book, it will be found to be quick and easy to apply as well as very accurate. With this method, we make accurate calculations using data taken directly from a vessel's DR position and so avoid the inaccuracies of sight reduction methods that involve interpolation from tables using data based on an 'assumed position'. Astronomy For Astro Navigation. This book focuses on those aspects of astronomy that are essential for a complete understanding of astro navigation - a must for sailors, navigators, nautical colleges and navigation tutors. Teachers and students of many other subjects including geography and mathematics will also find this book interesting, entertaining and very informative. The only book of its kind - no other book focuses on only those aspects of astronomy that are relevant to astro navigation. An ideal introduction to both astronomy and astro navigation containing 178 letter size pages packed with illustrations, detailed diagrams and clear explanations."Know the stars and you will always have a compass" (The Revenant) The Astro Navigation Demystified website provides a free resource for all those interested in the subject of astro navigation (or celestial navigation as it is also known): www.astronavigationdemystified.com

Reeds Astro Navigation Tables is an established book of annual astro-navigation tables compiled specifically for the needs of yachtsmen. It contains all the information the ocean-going sailor needs (without the bulk) in order to navigate by the sun, moon, planets and stars, using tables devised by practical ocean navigators. This book, together with a sextant, will enable sailors to navigate confidently and safely when out of the sight of land. The book continues to feature the well-received additions of the past couple of years, including forms to help determine True Altitude (for the sun, planets and stars), Calculated Altitude (using the versine formula) and Azimuth (using the ABC Tables), as well as a pro forma for calculating Intercept. With 8 extra pages and an improved layout, there is plenty of space for making notes and calculations.

Reeds Astro Navigation Tables is an established book of annual astro-navigation tables compiled specifically for the needs of yachtsmen. It contains all the information the ocean-going sailor needs (without the bulk) in order to navigate by the sun, moon, planets and stars, using tables devised by practical ocean navigators. This book, together with a sextant, will enable sailors to navigate confidently and safely when out of the sight of land. The book continues to feature the well-received additions from last year, including forms to help determine True Altitude (for the sun, planets and stars), Calculated Altitude (using the versine formula) and Azimuth (using the ABC Tables), as well as a pro forma for calculating Intercept.