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Re: Technique question
From: Steven Wepster
Date: 2003 May 20, 10:25 +0200
From: Steven Wepster
Date: 2003 May 20, 10:25 +0200
Doug and other lunartics,
Unfortunately I have done only two lunars up to now, and both were done in
clear skies. I hope this answers part of Doug's question.
In the old days mariners were advised to take, whenever possible, an
easterly lunar distance _and_ a westerly lunar distance. Any error in the
computed position of the moon and also most systematic measurement errors
cancel out by taking the mean of the aquired longitudes or times. I have
not looked into Doug's observations; but if it happened that he made E and
W distances then it would be interesting to compare them and see if the
error that he is worrying about is consistent in this respect.
Steven.
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Steven Wepster wepster@math.uu.nl
tel +31 30 253 1531
Mathematisch Instituut +31 61 251 4380
Universiteit Utrecht
PO Box 80.010
3508 TA Utrecht
The Netherlands
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