NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: Ho 208 question
From: Stan K
Date: 2014 Mar 2, 02:31 -0500
From: Stan K
Date: 2014 Mar 2, 02:31 -0500
Bruce,
I took a look at the index of an old Bowditch and it listed what appeared to be well over 100 sight reduction methods. Partially based on NavList discussions, I added the five that appeared to be the most popular to Celestial Tools, which already had the Law of Cosines calculator method and the Nautical Almanac Concise method, the only ones currently taught by the United States Power Squadrons. The next two were easy - 249 and 229 are still being published (and can be downloaded), and are included in the Power Squadrons "Sight Reduction Methods" learning guide. Next was 211, which is also in the Power Squadron learning guide (the compact version, but I also added the original). The next two, 214 and 208, were chosen strictly based on the NavList discussions. Weems, Martelli, H.O. 218, and some others were also mentioned, but I didn't think they seemed to be as popular. However, I could be wrong. (Let me know if you have another opinion.)
As far as H.O. 208 goes, just be aware that the link Orjan provided is for the Fifth Edition, which apparently is not as popular as the Six Edition. For instance, one of the differences is that the Fifth Edition only has columns for LHAs of 1º to 90º, with rules on what to do if your LHA is over 90º, where the Sixth Edition has columns for 1º to 179º and 181º to 359º. As I understand it, the Letcher book includes the Sixth Edition.
Both H.O. 211 and H.O. 208 (and H.O. 214) were new to me when I added them to Celestial Tools, and I have found that I cannot do either one without a "cheat sheet". But that could just be a personal problem. I would suggest downloading the Fifth Edition, and if you decide you like H.O. 208, then consider buying the Letcher book. In any case, Celestial Tools seems to be working fairly well and could help in the learning process. (V4.4.0 Beta 7d is available at www.celestialtools.webs.com.)
Stan
I took a look at the index of an old Bowditch and it listed what appeared to be well over 100 sight reduction methods. Partially based on NavList discussions, I added the five that appeared to be the most popular to Celestial Tools, which already had the Law of Cosines calculator method and the Nautical Almanac Concise method, the only ones currently taught by the United States Power Squadrons. The next two were easy - 249 and 229 are still being published (and can be downloaded), and are included in the Power Squadrons "Sight Reduction Methods" learning guide. Next was 211, which is also in the Power Squadron learning guide (the compact version, but I also added the original). The next two, 214 and 208, were chosen strictly based on the NavList discussions. Weems, Martelli, H.O. 218, and some others were also mentioned, but I didn't think they seemed to be as popular. However, I could be wrong. (Let me know if you have another opinion.)
As far as H.O. 208 goes, just be aware that the link Orjan provided is for the Fifth Edition, which apparently is not as popular as the Six Edition. For instance, one of the differences is that the Fifth Edition only has columns for LHAs of 1º to 90º, with rules on what to do if your LHA is over 90º, where the Sixth Edition has columns for 1º to 179º and 181º to 359º. As I understand it, the Letcher book includes the Sixth Edition.
Both H.O. 211 and H.O. 208 (and H.O. 214) were new to me when I added them to Celestial Tools, and I have found that I cannot do either one without a "cheat sheet". But that could just be a personal problem. I would suggest downloading the Fifth Edition, and if you decide you like H.O. 208, then consider buying the Letcher book. In any case, Celestial Tools seems to be working fairly well and could help in the learning process. (V4.4.0 Beta 7d is available at www.celestialtools.webs.com.)
Stan
-----Original Message-----
From: Bruce J. Pennino <bpennino.ce@charter.net>
To: slk1000 <slk1000@aol.com>
Sent: Sat, Mar 1, 2014 10:37 pm
Subject: [NavList] Re: Ho 208 question
From: Bruce J. Pennino <bpennino.ce@charter.net>
To: slk1000 <slk1000@aol.com>
Sent: Sat, Mar 1, 2014 10:37 pm
Subject: [NavList] Re: Ho 208 question
Hello:
I've now become curious about the various earlier methods. Weems LOP 1927 , version 1943 with Z equation and Rust diagram ,is very direct and easy to use. The "improved" Martelli Time Sight Tables by Bernecky, with all of the instruction/sample problems, also goes along easily (thank you Robert..... a lot of work).
I have Mixter's book (1945) where he provides instructions and complete tables for H.O. 211. As FER wrote, Mixter seems to favor it at that time. I read many earlier NavList postings and H.O. 208 seems a favorite, while HO 211 is not as easy or direct?
I'm wondering if I should download the HO 208 tables as mentioned recently, or buy via Ebay "Self Contained Celestial Navigation with HO 208, 1977" by John Letcher. The book (good condition) cost is about $13 US. Worthwhile?
Robert, thanks again !
Bruce
On Wed, Feb 26, 2014 at 10:56 PM, Stan K wrote:
___________________________________
ARRGH!
Well, Frank, apparently I'm not the only one who missed that. But it just goes to show that the members of this group are willing to put in some effort to help someone out.
Actually, it seems that as of January 18th I was just beginning to work on the additional sight reduction methods, and 208 was at the bottom of the list. I'm thinking that Orjan's message was not directed to me specifically, but it was definitely the NavList talk about 208, etc., that got me interested in adding the additional methods. I only wish Orjan's message had registered, but it got filtered by a cluttered mind.
Stan
-----Original Message-----
From: Frank Reed <FrankReed{at}HistoricalAtlas.com>
To: slk1000 <slk1000---.com>
Sent: Wed, Feb 26, 2014 1:22 pm
Subject: [NavList] Re: Ho 208 question
___________________________________
Wait, why are we trying to scan these tables again? Isn't the copy listed below a COMPLETE copy of H.O. 208??
This was posted just last month:
"From: Örjan Sandström
Date: 2014 Jan 14, 11:24 -0800
Below are links to Dreisonstock (HO-208) in several formats.
"
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