NavList:

Hi,

>I am proposing is decapitating the beast. Take it straight to the top.

>So, perhaps the Hav-Doniol method should be submitted to the USNO, who may then submit the idea to HMNAO? I don't know. Thoughts, anyone?

My 2 cents: If the hav-Doniol authors decide to go direct to HMNAO I suggest Dr. Steve Bell or Ms. Catherine Hohenkerk:

http://astro.ukho.gov.uk/nao/contacts/

Note 1: The late George Huxtable would have been an ideal HMNAO liaison; unfortunately he passed.  RIP.

Note 2: Regards USNO see below.

As already mentioned, the Nautical Almanac publishers will likely require numerous hurdles e.g., peer review/referee cycles, resolve NIH issues, as well as letters of assurance from authors or equivalent for any and all essential patents, IPR (Intellectual Property Rights), etc.  Additionally, the NA is an annual publication so there is legacy editor/publishing cycles too i.e., 9 months lead time, etc.

Secondly, my guess is that the hav-Doniol Sight Reduction will at first be a compliment vs. a substitute to existing published NA SR's.  Again, the current NA is promoted with "Each edition also contains a sight reduction table; sight reduction formulas; and various correction tables for sight reduction. There is a useful concise sight reduction form at the back of the book."  An example of existing users might be readers/advocates of Dr. Geoffrey Kolbe LTA 2000-2050, traditional NA users, etc. 

Finally, from my reading of NavList the hav-Doniol SR is still (post ON article) undergoing edits, builds e.g., w/o azimuth diagram, w/ azimuth formula, etc. if that is true then unintentional "forks" (computer lingo for numerous versions in the field supported by fragmented user groups) can be introduced.  These issues revolve around the question "is there a first-mover advantage/disadvantage, etc."  Professional peer review is a great solution for this stated problem i.e., RIN Journal of Navigation or Navigation News, ION Navigation or Newsletter, etc.

In summary, Frank poses an interesting challenge to the NavList message boards i.e., promote the hav-Doniol SR into the NA publications at HMNAO/USNO.  However, as Stan, Andrés, and others have produced hav-Doniol SR checking software applications there is likely a larger beast/market for hav-Doniol SR i.e., NavPac software package, USPS Celestial Tools, etc.  BTW I understand that as of 30Mar15 HMNAO's Dr. Paresh Prema was working on a new interface for NavPac and HMNAO are looking for beta testers as well as user feedback on NavPac 3.4.0 and Compact Data 2016-2020.

In conclusion, the NavList message boards are a great resource for us, the hav-Doniol SR authors and HMNAO/USNO.  We should ask the authors what they want to do as well as ask HMNAO/USNO existing or recently retired employees for suggestions and/or next steps.  Here are some suggested next step HMNAO/USNO contacts:

HMNAO I suggest contacting http://astro.ukho.gov.uk/nao/contacts/

     Dr. Steve Bell or Ms. Catherine Hohenkerk

USNO I also agree w/ SeanC and suggest contacting http://aa.usno.navy.mil/about/staff/docs/address.php or their consultant:

     George H. Kaplan, Ph.D. Astronomer
      Phone:  1-xxx-xxx-xxxx
      e-mail: gk@gkaplan.us
      http://gkaplan.us/

HTH

--

Ian Gifford