NavList:

Thanks for the link Luc.

I see that Sam observed the Moon and got to within 9' of GPS. He was satisfied but I think he probably did better than that. It would be of interest to look at the data for that Moon shot if Sam is watching.

Greg Rudzinski

From: Luc Van den Borre
Date: 2015 Feb 10, 16:15 +0100

 

On 10/02/15 15:26, Don Seltzer wrote:
> Two years ago, historian Sam Willis stopped by this forum for advice
> on land navigation.  He was about to participate in a re-enactment of
> the 1869 Powell Expedition down the Colorado River, through the Grand
> Canyon.  He was hoping to use a sextant to take some readings, but was
> faced with the same problem of a high summer sun and an artificial
> horizon.
>
> The expedition was co-sponsored by the Discovery Channel and BBC, but
> I don't think the program ever aired in the US.  I don't know if he
> succeeded in taking any sightings.

Yes - you can see him 'making his own mini ocean in a bowl' and taking
moon shots after climbing to the rim of the canyon. The navigation bit
starts 24 minutes into the second episode:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2f1pxg

He's got a pole with him, too.

Luc