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Celestial navigation

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706:. The observed angle must be corrected for the effects of refraction and parallax, like any celestial sight. To make this correction, the navigator measures the altitudes of the Moon and Sun (or another star) at about the same time as the lunar distance angle. Only rough values for the altitudes are required. A calculation with suitable published tables (or longhand with logarithms and graphical tables) requires about 10 to 15 minutes' work to convert the observed angle(s) to a geocentric lunar distance. The navigator then compares the corrected angle against those listed in the appropriate almanac pages for every three hours of Greenwich time, using interpolation tables to derive intermediate values. The result is a difference in time between the time source (of unknown time) used for the observations and the actual prime meridian time (that of the "Zero Meridian" at Greenwich, also known as UTC or GMT). Knowing UTC/GMT, a further set of sights can be taken and reduced by the navigator to calculate their exact position on the Earth as a local latitude and longitude. 515: 1087:, from which the navigator determined the plane's position. The dome's movement simulated the changing positions of the stars with the passage of time and the movement of the plane around the Earth. The navigator also received simulated radio signals from various positions on the ground. Below the cockpit moved "terrain plates"—large, movable aerial photographs of the land below—which gave the crew the impression of flight and enabled the bomber to practice lining up bombing targets. A team of operators sat at a control booth on the ground below the machine, from which they could simulate 374: 557: 847:; with this method, the body height and azimuth are calculated for a convenient trial position and compared with the observed height. The difference in arcminutes is the nautical mile "intercept" distance that the position line needs to be shifted toward or away from the direction of the body's subpoint. (The intercept method uses the concept illustrated in the example in the "How it works" section above.) Two other methods of reducing sights are the 310: 626: 397: 74: 151:
Sun and the exact time of that altitude (known as "local noon")—the highest point of the Sun above the horizon from the position of the observer in any single day. This angular observation, combined with knowing its simultaneous precise time, referred to as the time at the prime meridian, directly renders a latitude and longitude fix at the time and place of the observation by simple mathematical reduction. The Moon, a planet,
1955: 363: 294:, Paraguay. In most cases, determining which of the two intersections is the correct one is obvious to the observer because they are often thousands of miles apart. As it is unlikely that the ship is sailing across South America, the position in the Atlantic is the correct one. Note that the lines of position in the figure are distorted because of the map's projection; they would be circular if plotted on a globe. 538:. If a navigator measures the angle to Polaris and finds it to be 10 degrees from the horizon, then he is about 10 degrees north of the equator. This approximate latitude is then corrected using simple tables or almanac corrections to determine a latitude that is theoretically accurate to within a fraction of a mile. Angles are measured from the horizon because locating the point directly overhead, the 1979: 1844: 1931: 1967: 32: 1943: 1919: 208:
above the horizon.) Sights on two celestial bodies give two such lines on the chart, intersecting at the observer's position (actually, the two circles would result in two points of intersection arising from sights on two stars described above, but one can be discarded since it will be far from the estimated position—see the figure at the
283:. Ten minutes later, the Sun was observed to be 40° above the horizon. Lines of position were then calculated and plotted for each of these observations. Since both the Sun and Moon were observed at their respective angles from the same location, the navigator would have to be located at one of the two locations where the circles cross. 248:
accurate to within a second or two with about 15 to 30 minutes of observations and mathematical reduction from the almanac tables. After practice, an observer can regularly derive and prove time using this method to within about one second, or one nautical mile, of navigational error due to errors ascribed to the time source.
542:, is not normally possible. When haze obscures the horizon, navigators use artificial horizons, which are horizontal mirrors or pans of reflective fluid, especially mercury. In the latter case, the angle between the reflected image in the mirror and the actual image of the object in the sky is exactly twice the required altitude. 612:
taking the number of hours (use decimals for fractions of an hour) multiplied by 15, the number of degrees in one hour. Either way, it can be demonstrated that much of central North America is at or near 90 degrees west longitude. Eastern longitudes can be determined by adding the local time to GMT, with similar calculations.
607:) when the Sun is at its highest point in Earth's sky. The calculation of noon can be made more easily and accurately with a small, exactly vertical rod driven into level ground—take the time reading when the shadow is pointing due north (in the northern hemisphere). Then take your local time reading and subtract it from GMT ( 257: 191:(GP), the location of which can be determined from tables in the nautical or air almanac for that year. The measured angle between the celestial body and the visible horizon is directly related to the distance between the celestial body's GP and the observer's position. After some computations, referred to as " 482:
altitude based on the exact time and estimated position of the observation. On the chart, the straight edge of a plotter can mark each position line. If the position line indicates a location more than a few miles from the estimated position, more observations can be taken to restart the dead-reckoning track.
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if one of the three was wrong, so the pilot would take the average of the two with closer readings (average precision vote). There is an old adage to this effect, stating: "Never go to sea with two chronometers; take one or three." Vessels engaged in survey work generally carried many more than three
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computations, and a chart of the region. With sight reduction tables, the only calculations required are addition and subtraction. Small handheld computers, laptops and even scientific calculators enable modern navigators to "reduce" sextant sights in minutes, by automating all the calculation and/or
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Celestial navigation accomplishes its purpose by using angular measurements (sights) between celestial bodies and the visible horizon to locate one's position on the Earth, whether on land, in the air, or at sea. In addition, observations between stars and other celestial bodies accomplished the same
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Celestial navigation by taking sights of the Sun and the horizon whilst on the surface of the Earth is commonly used, providing various methods of determining position, one of which is the popular and simple method called "noon sight navigation"—being a single observation of the exact altitude of the
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systems as potentially the only accurate time source aboard a vessel. Designed for use when an accurate timepiece is not available or timepiece accuracy is suspect during a long sea voyage, the navigator precisely measures the angle between the Moon and the Sun or between the Moon and one of several
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Time), or the time in London, England. For example, a noon reading (12:00) near central Canada or the US would occur at approximately 6 p.m. (18:00) in London. The 6-hour difference is one quarter of a 24-hour day, or 90 degrees of a 360-degree circle (the Earth). The calculation can also be made by
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can be used as a method of determining time at the prime meridian. A functioning timepiece with a second hand or digit, an almanac with lunar corrections, and a sextant are used. With no knowledge of time at all, a lunar calculation (given an observable Moon of respectable altitude) can provide time
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until quite recently. However, since a prudent mariner never relies on any sole means of fixing their position, many national maritime authorities still require deck officers to show knowledge of celestial navigation in examinations, primarily as a backup for electronic or satellite navigation. One
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or "lunars," which was used extensively for a short period and refined for daily use on board ships in the 18th century. Use declined through the middle of the 19th century as better and better timepieces (chronometers) became available to the average vessel at sea. Although most recently only used
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track, that is, a course estimated from a vessel's position, course, and speed. Using multiple methods helps the navigator detect errors and simplifies procedures. When used this way, a navigator, from time to time, measures the Sun's altitude with a sextant, then compares that with a precalculated
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Accurate angle measurement has evolved over the years. One simple method is to hold the hand above the horizon with one's arm stretched out. The angular width of the little finger is just over 1.5 degrees at extended arm's length and can be used to estimate the elevation of the Sun from the horizon
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below). Most navigators will use sights of three to five stars, if available, since that will result in only one common intersection and minimize the chance of error. That premise is the basis for the most commonly used method of celestial navigation, referred to as the "altitude-intercept method."
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of a very large circle on Earth that surrounds the GP of the observed celestial body. (An observer located anywhere on the circumference of this circle on Earth, measuring the angle of the same celestial body above the horizon at that instant of time, would observe that body to be at the same angle
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are used to determine the location of a vehicle, such as a spacecraft in deep space. A vehicle using XNAV would compare received X-ray signals with a database of known pulsar frequencies and locations. Similar to GNSS, this comparison would allow the vehicle to triangulate its position accurately
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As early as the mid-1960s, advanced electronic and computer systems had evolved enabling navigators to obtain automated celestial sight fixes. These systems were used aboard both ships and US Air Force aircraft, and were highly accurate, able to lock onto up to 11 stars (even in daytime) and
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is defined as 1,852 meters but is also (not accidentally) one arc minute of angle along a meridian on the Earth. Sextants can be read accurately to within 0.1 arcminutes, so the observer's position can be determined within (theoretically) 0.1 nautical miles (185.2 meters, or about 203 yards. Most
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when, after one observation, he computed and plotted his longitude at more than one trial latitude in his vicinity and noticed that the positions lay along a line. Using this method with two bodies, navigators were finally able to cross two position lines and obtain their position, in effect
334:. The sextant and octant are most accurate because they measure angles from the horizon, eliminating errors caused by the placement of an instrument's pointers, and because their dual-mirror system cancels relative motions of the instrument, showing a steady view of the object and horizon. 525:
was measured in the past either by measuring the altitude of the Sun at noon (the "noon sight") or by measuring the altitudes of any other celestial body when crossing the meridian (reaching its maximum altitude when due north or south), and frequently by measuring the altitude of
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and is still used on many contemporary satellites. Equally, celestial navigation may be used while on other planetary bodies to determine position on their surface, using their local horizon and suitable celestial bodies with matching reduction tables and knowledge of local time.
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Celestial navigation continues to be used by private yachtsmen, and particularly by long-distance cruising yachts around the world. For small cruising boat crews, celestial navigation is generally considered an essential skill when venturing beyond visual range of land. Although
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took centuries to solve and was dependent on the construction of a non-pendulum clock (as pendulum clocks cannot function accurately on a tilting ship, or indeed a moving vehicle of any kind). Two useful methods evolved during the 18th century and are still practiced today:
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for the actual sight, so that no chronometers were ever exposed to the wind and salt water on deck. Winding and comparing the chronometers was a crucial duty of the navigator. Even today, it is still logged daily in the ship's deck log and reported to the captain before
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normally keeps time within a half-second per day. If it is worn constantly, keeping it near body heat, its rate of drift can be measured with the radio, and by compensating for this drift, a navigator can keep time to better than a second per month. When time at the
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The considerably more popular method was (and still is) to use an accurate timepiece to directly measure the time of a sextant sight. The need for accurate navigation led to the development of progressively more accurate chronometers in the 18th century (see
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is accurately known. The more accurately time at the prime meridian (0° longitude) is known, the more accurate the fix; – indeed, every four seconds of time source (commonly a chronometer or, in aircraft, an accurate
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In the event of equipment or electrical failure, taking Sun lines a few times a day and advancing them by dead reckoning allows a vessel to get a crude running fix sufficient to return to port. One can also use the Moon, a planet,
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Previously scheduled for a December 2016 launch on SpaceX-12, NICER will now fly to the International Space Station with two other payloads on SpaceX Commercial Resupply Services (CRS)-11, in the Dragon vehicle's unpressurized
576:. The problem is that the Earth turns 15 degrees per hour, making such measurements dependent on time. A measure a few minutes before or after the same measure the day before creates serious navigation errors. Before good 354:
ocean navigators, measuring from a moving platform under fair conditions, can achieve a practical accuracy of approximately 1.5 nautical miles (2.8 km, enough to navigate safely when out of sight of land or other hazards.
143:. Celestial navigation can also take advantage of measurements between celestial bodies without reference to the Earth's horizon, such as when the Moon and other selected bodies are used in the practice called "lunars" or the 1468: 766:), or one-tenth of a second means 107.8 ft (32.86 m) At the slightly bulged-out equator, or latitude 0°, the rotation velocity of Earth or its equivalent in longitude reaches its maximum at 465.10  213:
At least three points must be plotted. The plot intersection will usually provide a triangle where the exact position is inside of it. The accuracy of the sights is indicated by the size of the triangle.
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At another federal service academy, the US Merchant Marine Academy, there was no break in instruction in celestial navigation as it is required to pass the US Coast Guard License Exam to enter the
1098:(RAF) in 1939. The RAF ordered 60 of these machines, and the first one was built in 1941. The RAF used only a few of these, leasing the rest back to the US, where eventually hundreds were in use. 870:
In 1980, French Navy regulations still required an independently operated timepiece on board so that, in combination with a sextant, a ship's position could be determined by celestial navigation.
754:(or another starting point) is accurately known, celestial navigation can determine longitude, and the more accurately latitude and time are known, the more accurate the longitude determination. 219:
used both noon sight and star sight navigation to determine his current position during his voyage, the first recorded single-handed circumnavigation of the world. In addition, he used the
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of the most common current uses of celestial navigation aboard large merchant vessels is for compass calibration and error checking at sea when no terrestrial references are available.
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For navigation by celestial means, when on the surface of the Earth at any given instant in time, a celestial body is located directly over a single point on the Earth's surface. The
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is latitude-dependent. At the poles, or latitude 90°, the rotation velocity of the Earth reaches zero. At 45° latitude, one second of time is equivalent in longitude to 1,077.8 
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to accurately determine their actual current physical position in space or on the surface of the Earth without relying solely on estimated positional calculations, commonly known as
1494: 223:(or "lunars") to determine and maintain known time at Greenwich (the prime meridian), thereby keeping his "tin clock" reasonably accurate and therefore his position fixes accurate. 318:
plane and therefore estimate the time until sunset. The need for more accurate measurements led to the development of a number of increasingly accurate instruments, including the
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Traditionally, a navigator checked their chronometer(s) with their sextant at a geographic marker surveyed by a professional astronomer. This is now a rare skill, and most
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and Doppler navigation systems, and today's satellite-based systems which can locate the aircraft's position accurate to a 3-meter sphere with several updates per second.
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data lookup steps. Most people can master simpler celestial navigation procedures after a day or two of instruction and practice, even using manual calculation methods.
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An older but still useful and practical method of determining accurate time at sea before the advent of precise timekeeping and satellite-based time systems is called "
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if the two displayed a different time, since in case of contradiction between the two chronometers, it would be impossible to know which one was wrong (the
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While celestial navigation is becoming increasingly redundant with the advent of inexpensive and highly accurate satellite navigation receivers (
1755: 584:. For the most part, these were too difficult to be used by anyone except professional astronomers. The invention of the modern chronometer by 1811: 572:
If the angle to Polaris can be accurately measured, a similar measurement of a star near the eastern or western horizons would provide the
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for determining position is shown to the right. (Two other common methods for determining one's position using celestial navigation are
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use celestial navigation to check and correct their course (initially set using internal gyroscopes) while flying outside the Earth's
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by sextant hobbyists and historians, it is now becoming more common in celestial navigation courses to reduce total dependence on
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point would see the Moon at the left of the Sun, and an observer at the Madeira point would see the Moon at the right of the Sun.
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conditions such as wind or clouds. This team also tracked the airplane's position by moving a "crab" (a marker) on a paper map.
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technology is reliable, offshore yachtsmen use celestial navigation as either a primary navigational tool or as a backup.
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determining both latitude and longitude. Later in the 19th century came the development of the modern (Marcq St. Hilaire)
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Presently, layperson calculations of longitude can be made by noting the exact local time (leaving out any reference for
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on the forenoon watch (shipboard noon). Navigators also set the ship's clocks and calendar. Two chronometers provided
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on October 29, 2005. At this time, a navigator on a ship at sea measured the Moon to be 56° above the horizon using a
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methods.) In the adjacent image, the two circles on the map represent lines of position for the Sun and Moon at 12:00
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In this case, the navigator is either located on the Atlantic Ocean, about 350 nautical miles (650 km) west of
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obtained would be the same as having only one chronometer and checking it periodically: every day at noon against
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Becker, Werner; Bernhardt, Mike G.; Jessner, Axel (2013-05-21). "Autonomous Spacecraft Navigation With Pulsars".
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cannot locate their harbor's marker. Ships often carried more than one chronometer. Chronometers were kept on
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3rd class, practices using a sextant as part of a navigation training aboard the amphibious assault ship
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or plotting worksheet, with the observer's position being somewhere on that line. The LOP is actually a short
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had a "sextant port" in the roof of the cockpit. It was only phased out in the 1960s with the advent of
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were available, longitude measurements were based on the transit of the moon or the positions of the
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Celestial navigation was used in commercial aviation up until the early part of the jet age; early
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The Link Celestial Navigation Trainer was developed in response to a request made by the
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continued instructing military aviators on celestial navigation use until 1997, because:
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celestial navigation does not give off any signals that could be detected by an enemy.
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Table of the 57 navigational stars with apparent magnitudes and celestial coordinates
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Two ship's officers "shoot" a morning sight with sextants, the Sun altitude (1963).
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giving an accuracy of less than ±5 seconds per year, French Navy issued, 1980
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Modern practical navigators usually use celestial navigation in combination with
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The marine chronometer in the age of electricity by David Read, September 2015
987:(XNAV) is an experimental navigation technique for space whereby the periodic 891:
celestial navigation cannot be jammed (although it can be obscured by clouds).
1993: 1734:"Chinese Long March 11 launches first Pulsar Navigation Satellite into Orbit" 1600: 1321: 1084: 1067:
crew (pilot, navigator, and bombardier). The cockpit offered a full array of
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Celestial navigation training equipment for aircraft crews combine a simple
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A variation on terrestrial celestial navigation was used to help orient the
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Using a marine sextant to measure the altitude of the Sun above the horizon
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uses "sights," or timed angular measurements, taken typically between a
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en route to and from the Moon. To this day, space missions such as the
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resolve the craft's position to less than 300 feet (91 m). The
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by F. A. McDiarmid, The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, 1914.
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in a dry room near the center of the ship. They were used to set a
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giving schedules of the coordinates of celestial objects, a set of
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Seeing stars, again: Naval Academy reinstates celestial navigation
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The celestial line of position concept was discovered in 1837 by
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or other similar modern electronic or digital positioning means.
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celestial navigation can be used independently of ground aids.
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can be made smaller and lighter. On 9 November 2016 the
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Errors in Longitude, Latitude and Azimuth Determinations — I
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launched an experimental pulsar navigation satellite called
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Navigation using astronomical objects to determine position
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was one example of an aircraft that used a combination of
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THE AMERICAN PRACTICAL NAVIGATORAN EPITOME OF NAVIGATION
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whose coordinates are tabulated in any of the published
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How Accurate Is Celestial Navigation Compared To GPS?
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above the cockpit was an arrangement of lights, some
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results while in space, – used in the
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in 1761 vastly simplified longitudinal calculation.
534:). Polaris always stays within 1 degree of the 1752:"NICER Manifested on SpaceX-11 ISS Resupply Flight" 1744: 1369:(4th ed.). New York: AIP Press. p. 244. 560:The relative longitude to a position (for example 449:Practical celestial navigation usually requires a 108:. Celestial navigation is performed without using 1433:"Volume II: Proceedings of the Second Expedition" 729:). Today, time is measured with a chronometer, a 1991: 187:of that point are known as the celestial body's 1075:used to fly the simulated airplane. Fixed to a 263:An example illustrating the concept behind the 239:") error can lead to a positional error of one 195:reduction," this measurement is used to plot a 833: 1786:A Brief History of Aircraft Flight Simulation 1362: 1322:"How accurate is the TIME DISPLAY on my GPS?" 1028:project, launched on 3 June 2017 on the 1619:"An Interplanetary GPS Using Pulsar Signals" 1594: 819:chronometers – for example, 337:Navigators measure distance on the Earth in 1020:that is testing XNAV on-orbit on board the 969:automated celestial and inertial navigation 654:. Unsourced material may be challenged and 243:. When time is unknown or not trusted, the 1505:by Tim Prudente Published: 12 October 2015 1879:Almanac, Sight Reduction Tables and more. 1663: 1262: 888:celestial navigation has global coverage. 674:Learn how and when to remove this message 437:Learn how and when to remove this message 1736:. Spaceflight101.com. 10 November 2016. 1597:"Pulsars map the way for space missions" 1514: 1482:By DAVID W. CHEN Published: May 29, 1998 1469:Navy Cadets Won't Discard Their Sextants 985:X-ray pulsar-based navigation and timing 555: 513: 372: 361: 308: 255: 226:Celestial navigation can only determine 72: 1130:Bowditch's American Practical Navigator 357: 1992: 1754:. NICER News. NASA. December 1, 2015. 1529:from the original on 22 February 2016. 1459:Pamphlet (AFPAM) 11-216, Chapters 8–13 1430: 1396: 1356: 304: 1607:from the original on 18 October 2017. 1561: 1515:Peterson, Andrea (17 February 2016). 1172:List of selected stars for navigation 917:, most recently as Astronomy 2. 21:Celestial navigation (disambiguation) 1740:from the original on 24 August 2017. 1595:Commissariat, Tushna (4 June 2014). 1319: 652:adding citations to reliable sources 619: 419:adding citations to reliable sources 390: 167:can also accomplish this same goal. 54:move details into the article's body 25: 1758:from the original on March 24, 2017 975:Intercontinental ballistic missiles 13: 1868:Complete nautical Almanac and more 1332:from the original on 4 August 2017 14: 2011: 1883:Celestial Navigation in Petan.net 1837: 1702: 1576:from the original on 14 June 2015 1053:Link Celestial Navigation Trainer 1016:-funded project developed at the 615: 1977: 1965: 1953: 1941: 1929: 1917: 1842: 1542:Astronomy 2 Celestial Navigation 1366:Allen's Astrophysical Quantities 1227:The free online Nautical Almanac 624: 494:to track celestial positioning. 395: 77:A diagram of a typical nautical 30: 1804: 1774: 1726: 1715:from the original on 2016-11-01 1696: 1643: 1611: 1588: 1562:Clark, Pilita (17 April 2015). 1555: 1533: 1508: 1485: 1462: 1450: 1439: 1424: 1390: 1263:Navigator, Ocean (2003-01-01). 810:). Three chronometers provided 465:to help perform the height and 406:needs additional citations for 1344: 1313: 1289: 1277: 1256: 1232: 1220: 1209: 756:The angular speed of the Earth 709: 1: 1627:. 23 May 2013. Archived from 1203: 1167:List of proper names of stars 741:, or the time displayed on a 545: 209: 7: 1872:Calculating Lunar Distances 1363:Arthur N. Cox, ed. (2000). 1101: 1035: 1022:International Space Station 1018:Goddard Space Flight Center 1006:Chinese Academy of Sciences 900:United States Naval Academy 834:Modern celestial navigation 735:shortwave radio time signal 497: 10: 2018: 1406:. Addison-Wesley. p.  1244:teachersinstitute.yale.edu 713: 685: 549: 507: 501: 457:to measure the angles, an 251: 18: 1903:Sextant in a Douglas DC-8 812:triple modular redundancy 155:, or one of the 57 other 1856:Celestial Navigation Net 1141:Circle of equal altitude 1051:An early example is the 849:longitude by chronometer 716:Longitude by chronometer 367:Ships Marine Chronometer 269:longitude by chronometer 1898:Air Navigation Sextants 1119:Astrodome (aeronautics) 1024:in connection with the 965:reconnaissance aircraft 913:. It is also taught at 796:dual modular redundancy 552:Longitude determination 378:U.S. Navy quartermaster 1564:"The future of flying" 1403:The Mythical Man-Month 1063:accommodating a whole 1032:ISS resupply mission. 945:Mars Exploration Rover 569: 519: 510:Latitude determination 463:sight reduction tables 388: 370: 314: 260: 96:using stars and other 82: 1851:at Wikimedia Commons 1816:World War II Memories 1624:MIT Technology Review 1301:www.sailingissues.com 1182:Polynesian navigation 991:signals emitted from 840:Thomas Hubbard Sumner 743:satellite time signal 559: 517: 490:, or one of 57 other 376: 365: 312: 259: 245:lunar distance method 230:when the time at the 221:lunar distance method 145:lunar distance method 92:, is the practice of 76: 2000:Celestial navigation 1849:Celestial navigation 1682:10.2420/AF07.2013.11 1398:Brooks, Frederick J. 1162:History of longitude 1157:Satellite navigation 923:satellite navigation 648:improve this section 605:daylight saving time 536:celestial north pole 475:satellite navigation 415:improve this article 358:Practical navigation 173:Apollo space program 110:satellite navigation 86:Celestial navigation 19:For other uses, see 1792:on December 9, 2004 1709:Gunter's Space Page 1674:2013AcFut...7...11B 1631:on 29 November 2014 1522:The Washington Post 955:of the spacecraft. 934:inertial navigation 532:Southern Hemisphere 453:to measure time, a 305:Angular measurement 297:An observer at the 189:geographic position 1549:2015-11-22 at the 1497:2015-10-23 at the 1480:The New York Times 1474:2009-02-13 at the 1326:gpsinformation.net 1192:Spherical geometry 1151:Geodetic astronomy 1114:Aircraft periscope 737:broadcast from an 720:Marine chronometer 570: 520: 492:navigational stars 451:marine chronometer 389: 371: 315: 261: 201:navigational chart 157:navigational stars 139:) and the visible 83: 1847:Media related to 1376:978-0-387-98746-0 951:to determine the 941:Apollo spacecraft 864:marine navigation 747:quartz wristwatch 694:lunar distances," 684: 683: 676: 593:longitude problem 504:Meridian altitude 447: 446: 439: 71: 70: 50:length guidelines 2007: 1982: 1981: 1980: 1970: 1969: 1968: 1958: 1957: 1956: 1946: 1945: 1934: 1933: 1932: 1922: 1921: 1920: 1913: 1846: 1832: 1831: 1829: 1827: 1818:. Archived from 1808: 1802: 1801: 1799: 1797: 1788:. Archived from 1778: 1772: 1771: 1765: 1763: 1748: 1742: 1741: 1730: 1724: 1723: 1721: 1720: 1700: 1694: 1693: 1667: 1647: 1641: 1640: 1638: 1636: 1615: 1609: 1608: 1592: 1586: 1585: 1583: 1581: 1559: 1553: 1544:by Philip Sadler 1537: 1531: 1530: 1512: 1506: 1489: 1483: 1466: 1460: 1454: 1448: 1443: 1437: 1436: 1428: 1422: 1421: 1394: 1388: 1387: 1385: 1383: 1360: 1354: 1348: 1342: 1341: 1339: 1337: 1317: 1311: 1310: 1308: 1307: 1293: 1287: 1281: 1275: 1274: 1272: 1271: 1260: 1254: 1253: 1251: 1250: 1236: 1230: 1224: 1218: 1213: 1187:Radio navigation 1057:Second World War 1042:flight simulator 1002:X-ray telescopes 845:intercept method 816:error correction 800:error correction 679: 672: 668: 665: 659: 628: 620: 582:moons of Jupiter 442: 435: 431: 428: 422: 399: 391: 384:Bonhomme Richard 265:intercept method 197:line of position 98:celestial bodies 88:, also known as 66: 63: 57: 48:Please read the 34: 33: 26: 2017: 2016: 2010: 2009: 2008: 2006: 2005: 2004: 1990: 1989: 1988: 1978: 1976: 1966: 1964: 1954: 1952: 1940: 1930: 1928: 1918: 1916: 1908: 1877:Backbearing.com 1840: 1835: 1825: 1823: 1810: 1809: 1805: 1795: 1793: 1780: 1779: 1775: 1761: 1759: 1750: 1749: 1745: 1732: 1731: 1727: 1718: 1716: 1703:Krebs, Gunter. 1701: 1697: 1648: 1644: 1634: 1632: 1617: 1616: 1612: 1593: 1589: 1579: 1577: 1569:Financial Times 1560: 1556: 1551:Wayback Machine 1538: 1534: 1513: 1509: 1503:Capital Gazette 1499:Wayback Machine 1490: 1486: 1476:Wayback Machine 1467: 1463: 1455: 1451: 1444: 1440: 1429: 1425: 1418: 1395: 1391: 1381: 1379: 1377: 1361: 1357: 1349: 1345: 1335: 1333: 1320:Mehaffey, Joe. 1318: 1314: 1305: 1303: 1295: 1294: 1290: 1282: 1278: 1269: 1267: 1261: 1257: 1248: 1246: 1238: 1237: 1233: 1225: 1221: 1214: 1210: 1206: 1201: 1177:Polar alignment 1104: 1096:Royal Air Force 1038: 911:Merchant Marine 836: 828:22 chronometers 804:error detection 722: 714:Main articles: 712: 702:stars near the 690: 680: 669: 663: 660: 645: 629: 618: 554: 548: 512: 506: 500: 443: 432: 426: 423: 412: 400: 360: 307: 254: 100:that enables a 94:position fixing 90:astronavigation 67: 61: 58: 47: 44:may be too long 39:This article's 35: 31: 24: 17: 12: 11: 5: 2015: 2014: 2003: 2002: 1987: 1986: 1974: 1962: 1950: 1938: 1926: 1906: 1905: 1900: 1895: 1890: 1885: 1880: 1874: 1869: 1863: 1858: 1839: 1838:External links 1836: 1834: 1833: 1803: 1782:"World War II" 1773: 1743: 1725: 1695: 1642: 1610: 1587: 1554: 1532: 1507: 1484: 1461: 1457:U.S. Air Force 1449: 1438: 1423: 1416: 1389: 1375: 1355: 1343: 1312: 1288: 1286:, p. 270. 1276: 1255: 1231: 1229:in PDF format. 1219: 1207: 1205: 1202: 1200: 1199: 1194: 1189: 1184: 1179: 1174: 1169: 1164: 1159: 1153: 1148: 1143: 1138: 1136:Celestial pole 1133: 1126: 1121: 1116: 1111: 1109:Air navigation 1105: 1103: 1100: 1085:constellations 1055:, used in the 1037: 1034: 896: 895: 892: 889: 886: 875:U.S. Air Force 835: 832: 808:dead reckoning 770:(1,525.9  752:prime meridian 711: 708: 688:Lunar distance 686:Main article: 682: 681: 632: 630: 623: 617: 616:Lunar distance 614: 609:Greenwich Mean 598:lunar distance 547: 544: 502:Main article: 499: 496: 479:dead reckoning 445: 444: 427:September 2011 403: 401: 394: 359: 356: 306: 303: 253: 250: 232:prime meridian 121:celestial body 106:dead reckoning 69: 68: 38: 36: 29: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 2013: 2012: 2001: 1998: 1997: 1995: 1985: 1975: 1973: 1963: 1961: 1951: 1949: 1944: 1939: 1937: 1927: 1925: 1915: 1914: 1911: 1904: 1901: 1899: 1896: 1894: 1891: 1889: 1886: 1884: 1881: 1878: 1875: 1873: 1870: 1867: 1864: 1862: 1859: 1857: 1854: 1853: 1852: 1850: 1845: 1822:on 2005-01-19 1821: 1817: 1813: 1807: 1791: 1787: 1783: 1777: 1770: 1757: 1753: 1747: 1739: 1735: 1729: 1714: 1710: 1706: 1699: 1691: 1687: 1683: 1679: 1675: 1671: 1666: 1661: 1657: 1653: 1646: 1630: 1626: 1625: 1620: 1614: 1606: 1602: 1601:Physics World 1598: 1591: 1575: 1571: 1570: 1565: 1558: 1552: 1548: 1545: 1543: 1536: 1528: 1524: 1523: 1518: 1511: 1504: 1500: 1496: 1493: 1488: 1481: 1477: 1473: 1470: 1465: 1458: 1453: 1447: 1442: 1435:. p. 18. 1434: 1427: 1419: 1417:0-201-83595-9 1413: 1409: 1405: 1404: 1399: 1393: 1378: 1372: 1368: 1367: 1359: 1352: 1347: 1331: 1327: 1323: 1316: 1302: 1298: 1292: 1285: 1280: 1266: 1259: 1245: 1241: 1235: 1228: 1223: 1217: 1212: 1208: 1198: 1195: 1193: 1190: 1188: 1185: 1183: 1180: 1178: 1175: 1173: 1170: 1168: 1165: 1163: 1160: 1158: 1154: 1152: 1149: 1147: 1144: 1142: 1139: 1137: 1134: 1132: 1131: 1127: 1125: 1122: 1120: 1117: 1115: 1112: 1110: 1107: 1106: 1099: 1097: 1092: 1090: 1086: 1083:, simulating 1082: 1078: 1074: 1070: 1066: 1062: 1058: 1054: 1049: 1047: 1043: 1033: 1031: 1030:SpaceX CRS-11 1027: 1023: 1019: 1015: 1011: 1007: 1003: 999: 994: 990: 986: 982: 980: 976: 972: 970: 966: 962: 956: 954: 950: 949:star trackers 946: 942: 937: 935: 931: 926: 924: 918: 916: 912: 907: 905: 901: 893: 890: 887: 884: 883: 882: 880: 876: 871: 868: 865: 861: 856: 854: 850: 846: 841: 831: 829: 825: 824: 817: 813: 809: 805: 801: 797: 793: 788: 784: 780: 779:harbormasters 775: 773: 769: 765: 762:(328.51  761: 757: 753: 748: 744: 740: 736: 732: 728: 727:John Harrison 721: 717: 707: 705: 700: 695: 689: 678: 675: 667: 664:February 2022 657: 653: 649: 643: 642: 638: 633:This section 631: 627: 622: 621: 613: 610: 606: 601: 599: 594: 589: 587: 586:John Harrison 583: 579: 575: 567: 563: 558: 553: 543: 541: 537: 533: 529: 524: 516: 511: 505: 495: 493: 489: 483: 480: 477:to correct a 476: 471: 468: 464: 460: 456: 452: 441: 438: 430: 420: 416: 410: 409: 404:This section 402: 398: 393: 392: 386: 385: 379: 375: 368: 364: 355: 352: 351:nautical mile 348: 344: 340: 335: 333: 329: 325: 321: 311: 302: 300: 295: 293: 289: 284: 282: 278: 274: 270: 266: 258: 249: 246: 242: 241:nautical mile 238: 233: 229: 224: 222: 218: 217:Joshua Slocum 214: 211: 206: 202: 198: 194: 190: 186: 182: 177: 174: 168: 166: 162: 158: 154: 148: 146: 142: 138: 134: 130: 126: 122: 118: 113: 111: 107: 103: 99: 95: 91: 87: 80: 75: 65: 62:February 2024 55: 51: 45: 43: 37: 28: 27: 22: 1984:Solar System 1841: 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A 739:atomic clock 731:quartz watch 723: 693: 691: 670: 661: 646:Please help 634: 602: 590: 578:chronometers 571: 521: 484: 472: 448: 433: 424: 413:Please help 408:verification 405: 383: 336: 316: 296: 285: 262: 225: 215: 178: 169: 149: 114: 89: 85: 84: 59: 42:lead section 40: 1972:Outer space 1960:Spaceflight 1893:THE V-FORCE 1826:January 27, 1796:January 27, 1652:Acta Futura 1069:instruments 1046:planetarium 998:radio waves 963:high-speed 930:Boeing 747s 853:ex-meridian 814:, allowing 792:eight bells 710:Use of time 273:ex-meridian 199:(LOP) on a 123:(e.g., the 1719:2016-11-01 1306:2023-07-23 1270:2023-07-23 1249:2023-07-23 1204:References 1197:Star clock 1081:collimated 979:atmosphere 787:hack watch 550:See also: 508:See also: 347:arcseconds 343:arcminutes 299:Gran Chaco 237:hack watch 117:navigation 115:Celestial 1936:Astronomy 1924:Geography 1888:Air Facts 1705:"XPNAV 1" 1690:118570784 1665:1305.4842 1635:29 August 1400:(1995) . 1382:17 August 1146:Ephemeris 879:U.S. Navy 635:does not 574:longitude 562:Greenwich 546:Longitude 324:astrolabe 228:longitude 185:longitude 102:navigator 52:and help 1994:Category 1762:June 14, 1756:Archived 1738:Archived 1713:Archived 1605:Archived 1580:19 April 1574:Archived 1547:Archived 1527:Archived 1495:Archived 1472:Archived 1330:Archived 1102:See also 1036:Training 1000:is that 953:attitude 855:method. 851:and the 826:carried 704:ecliptic 523:Latitude 498:Latitude 292:Asunción 181:latitude 165:almanacs 161:nautical 1910:Portals 1670:Bibcode 1089:weather 1061:cockpit 1044:with a 1010:XPNAV 1 993:pulsars 915:Harvard 904:hacking 783:gimbals 656:removed 641:sources 528:Polaris 488:Polaris 467:azimuth 459:almanac 455:sextant 387:, 2018. 339:degrees 332:sextant 288:Madeira 281:sextant 252:Example 210:example 205:segment 163:or air 153:Polaris 141:horizon 135:, or a 79:sextant 1769:Trunk. 1688:  1414:  1373:  1065:bomber 823:Beagle 568:/GMT). 540:zenith 345:, and 330:, and 328:octant 133:planet 127:, the 1948:Stars 1686:S2CID 1660:arXiv 1336:9 May 1155:GNSS 1073:pilot 1026:NICER 989:X-ray 961:SR-71 320:kamal 193:sight 1866:Inua 1828:2005 1798:2005 1764:2017 1637:2017 1582:2015 1412:ISBN 1384:2010 1371:ISBN 1338:2018 1077:dome 1014:NASA 947:use 898:The 877:and 873:The 860:GNSS 821:HMS 772:ft/s 733:, a 718:and 699:GNSS 639:any 637:cite 591:The 382:USS 349:. 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Index

Celestial navigation (disambiguation)
lead section
length guidelines
move details into the article's body

sextant
position fixing
celestial bodies
navigator
dead reckoning
satellite navigation
navigation
celestial body
Sun
Moon
planet
star
horizon
lunar distance method
Polaris
navigational stars
nautical
almanacs
Apollo space program
latitude
longitude
geographic position
sight
line of position
navigational chart

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