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A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: "A Star To Steer Her BY" -- I don't think it's so bad
From: Ken Gebhart
Date: 2005 Feb 2, 23:00 -0600
From: Ken Gebhart
Date: 2005 Feb 2, 23:00 -0600
Frank,
I feel that the reason many people have trouble REMEMBERING how celestial
navigation works after once having learned it (and most people do), is that they
have not worked through the abstractness of the concept, which is best
accomplished through reflection on what is really happening. As we know,
unique positions can only be determined on a curved surface, and never on a flat
one (except for space celestial of course). Yes, the lighthouse
analogy may get them out of the classroom with something under their hats,
but I feel it is counterproductive in the long run to their RETENTION of
the subject matter.
Ken Gebhart
----- Original Message -----From: Frank ReedSent: Tuesday, February 01, 2005 3:56 PMSubject: Re: "A Star To Steer Her BY" -- I don't think it's so bad"Yes, the mechanism is wrong, but I don't think it hindered my understanding. "Yep. I find that those who are most offended by the "flagpole" diagram and variations upon it are the very people who don't need it. But for many others it's an important first step in understanding the principle of celestial navigation. I think it needs to be carefully labeled as an analogy when it's used, but otherwise it does no harm and apparently helps many students.-FER
42.0N 87.7W, or 41.4N 72.1W.
www.HistoricalAtlas.com/lunars
