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Re: Astro Navigation at HMS Collingwood
From: Brad Morris
Date: 2018 Nov 11, 11:21 -0500
From: Brad Morris
Date: 2018 Nov 11, 11:21 -0500
Hi Bill
While a planetarium might serve as an interesting way to introduce concepts like the celestial sphere, effect of earth rotation and effect earth's orbit on the observed sky; it suffers from a terrific defect.
To wit: unless the student is precisely at the center of the dome (sphere) of the planetarium screen, severe angular errors are introduced. The angle measured is directly affected by the baseline or distance. Given four different seats within the planetarium, there will be four different angular readings. These errors preclude any meaningful reduction of observation. Indeed, the students will be confused, because they don't get the same answer! Was it because they absolutely failed at the observation or was it just seat assignment?
If the intent is basic introduction or very basic sextant skills, then there is no real objection. If however, the student is going to make any steps beyond that very basic introduction, the planetarium suffers.
Brad
On Sun, Nov 11, 2018, 10:47 AM Bill Lionheart <NoReply_Lionheart@fer3.com wrote:
I wonder if anyone knows what they still teach the RN about astro navigation. (I am believe I am right that the RAF and RN still use the terminology Astro rather than Celestial?) . I am fairly sure it is taught at HMS Collingwood and I found this interesting article about Lieutenant Jon Sutcliff pioneering the use of a planetarium as a teaching aid. https://hmscoa.org/sword/jonsutcliff.html It might of course be secret! Bill Lionheart