NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: Tilt angle sensing for use as a sextant
From: Paul Dolkas
Date: 2023 Mar 26, 21:59 -0700
From: Paul Dolkas
Date: 2023 Mar 26, 21:59 -0700
Jim-
I may be coming in late to this discussion, but a few years ago as part of a master's thesis project, I was trying to design a electronic sextant for use as a backup navigation device on the moon or Mars. I quickly came to the conclusion that, rather than using a bubble or artificial horizon, incorporating an electronic inclinometer made much more sence. The astronaut would just have to aim the device towards the sun or a star and push a button. The sextant would then be able to integrate the exact time (from an internal clock) and the altitude of the target automatically. There were several devices on the market in 2008 with the required accuracy, and I assume there is a much better selection now.
Paul
