NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
From: Douglas Denny
Date: 2010 Jul 31, 16:24 -0700
Ok Ike, I missed that, as the previous person in a posting says:-
"...Not to speak for the original poster, but I believe he said "in the case of
GPS system outage".
I know you were thinking hypothetically, but let's be honest - I should think GPS "outage" is about the most unlikely thing possible I can think of with what is it? 24+ satellites up there and an assurance from the US DOD that GPS is to stay whatever the political situation in the world barring nuclear war. It is also used by general aviation worldwide so would be disastrous if there was any possibility of 'outage'.
However... to go back to basics in your musings; might I suggest there is nothing in the world has been invented yet (after centuries of trying) that is so simple, efficient, accurate and assuring as having a mechanical chronometer (though these days any quartz watch is more accurate and reliable); almanac; chart; drawing instruments; protractor; and some kind of sextant (which does not need to be highly sophisticated as within a few minutes of arc will do for practical navigation) and you are fully equipped to find where you are anywhere in the world independently of any electricity or other agency other than the heavens at all. Also, it is so enduringly satisfying to be able to do it, and know at the same time you are so independent.
This is the remarkable achievement of astro navigation in the modern world: that so many people are still interested in spite of it being - or rather should be - obsolete: and yet people still want to learn how to do it.
Douglas Denny.
Chichester. England.
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