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Re: Longhand Sight Reduction
From: Greg Rudzinski
Date: 2014 Nov 17, 19:25 -0800
Bruce
From: Greg Rudzinski
Date: 2014 Nov 17, 19:25 -0800
Thanks Bruce and others for complements and encouragement on the various Doniol sight reduction methods and modifications.
The original Doniol cosine haversine formula is an excellent trig calculator alternative for reductions. The haversine Doniol formula is an excellent option for longhand table reductions.
Good luck with your AH Bruce and let me know how your reductions compare.
Greg Rudzinski
From: Bruce J. Pennino
Date: 2014 Nov 17, 09:20 -0500
Hello Greg, Gary and Hanno and others,
Doniol sight reduction seems quite innovative......well done and most interesting. Now that you’ve posted a couple of examples, I’ll give the method a try (on some cold wintry evening). I usually use two methods whenever I do a reduction, just so I don’t get rusty in other methods.My recent favorite is still Weems 1927 LOP Book (1943 version) followed by H. O, 249 and hand calculator.
This past weekend , for the first time, I used my USN AH No. 8 ( a mercury AH with a triangular hood) for a noon latitude sight. The wind was really blowing but the mercury was so still. Even though I rushed through the sight, the sun was earlier than I anticipated, my result was within 1 minute of arc of my actual location.
I’ve compared results with Hg AH and my mirror AH ( using a cheap Empire torpedo level and ordinary mirror glass ) and my results are always within a couple/few of minutes of arc. One of these days I’ll use the first surface mirror and Hg AH.
Again, thanks for all of the work. Best wishes to all.
Bruce
