NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: Celestial a Black Box?
From: Tom Sult
Date: 2016 Jan 17, 18:56 -0600
From: Tom Sult
Date: 2016 Jan 17, 18:56 -0600
I made a similar statement several years ago during one of the "electronics are evil" discussions. There is no position finding system that is autonomous to the boat. One must have some outside information for position finding.
The Polynesian have an autonomous path finding system. But not position finding.
Quoting an experienced navigation instructor:
"I now make it a point to all navigators that sextant, chronometer and tables comprise just as much of a 'black box' as does satellite navigation. Has anyone silvered a mirror lately in an emergency, or perhaps repaired a chronometer? Celestial navigation is merely an old fashioned 'black box' requiring a bit more of the navigator..."Is this a fair statement today? Is celestial a 'black box'? Just curious to hear opinions on the matter.
Frank Reed
