NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: Electronics combined with celestial navigation
From: Lu Abel
Date: 2015 Jan 10, 10:17 -0800
From: Lu Abel
Date: 2015 Jan 10, 10:17 -0800
German:
I think "electronics" is way too broad a brush.
Think "paper" for celestial: Does that include the Nautical Almanac? Paper on which to write down my solutions? HO229/249/NASR/etc as sight reduction tables? Some of those? All of those??
Now think electronics. When the term "electronics for navigation" is used most people think of GPS. And GPS, while one of the most significant navigation-related developments ever (on the par with chronometers, IMHO) is also vulnerable -- for example, to jamming. And so many offshore navigators feel that a knowledge of celestial is essential when the screen suddenly goes blank.
But there are certainly other "electronics" that can be used in navigation. For example, a scientific calculator. I have a solar-powered scientific calculator that I purchased two decades ago for $15. It claims that if you can see the screen there's enough light to power it. Would it be okay for me to do my sight reductions using it or is that "dependent on electronics?"
If one were to say "use tables, not a calculator" they need to realize that sight reduction tables are produced using computers. Would that be okay to one concerned about "use of electronics?" In fact, HO229 has a long preface describing how the tables were generated and checked using an IBM 1401 computer (state of the art in the 1950s).
I own a sailboat. I love the peace and calm of allowing the wind to silently move my boat towards its destination. But when the wind dies I'm happy to turn on my engine. I feel the same about CN -- know it, use it, but be happy to use "electronics" when called for.
Lu
I think "electronics" is way too broad a brush.
Think "paper" for celestial: Does that include the Nautical Almanac? Paper on which to write down my solutions? HO229/249/NASR/etc as sight reduction tables? Some of those? All of those??
Now think electronics. When the term "electronics for navigation" is used most people think of GPS. And GPS, while one of the most significant navigation-related developments ever (on the par with chronometers, IMHO) is also vulnerable -- for example, to jamming. And so many offshore navigators feel that a knowledge of celestial is essential when the screen suddenly goes blank.
But there are certainly other "electronics" that can be used in navigation. For example, a scientific calculator. I have a solar-powered scientific calculator that I purchased two decades ago for $15. It claims that if you can see the screen there's enough light to power it. Would it be okay for me to do my sight reductions using it or is that "dependent on electronics?"
If one were to say "use tables, not a calculator" they need to realize that sight reduction tables are produced using computers. Would that be okay to one concerned about "use of electronics?" In fact, HO229 has a long preface describing how the tables were generated and checked using an IBM 1401 computer (state of the art in the 1950s).
I own a sailboat. I love the peace and calm of allowing the wind to silently move my boat towards its destination. But when the wind dies I'm happy to turn on my engine. I feel the same about CN -- know it, use it, but be happy to use "electronics" when called for.
Lu
On 1/9/2015 11:56 AM, German Diaz
wrote:
Hi Celestial navigators, I read some posts where people use electronics in their calculations of celestial navigation . I wonder why, if the philosophy of celestial navigation is to be used when electronics are not available?.
always clear sky,
Germán
