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A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: That darned old cocked hat
From: George Huxtable
Date: 2010 Dec 10, 18:47 -0000
From: George Huxtable
Date: 2010 Dec 10, 18:47 -0000
Kermit wrote-
"DANIELS mentions a fascinating point explained in "Admiralty Navigation
Manual (1947)" where it is proven that [in the case of 3 observations] the
probability for the actual fix to lay inside the cocked hat is only 0.25 ."
Here's a section from an even earlier Admiralty Manual of Navigation, from
vol. III of 1938, pages 165-166.
It deals, not with astronomical LOPs, but the analogous situation of a
cocked hat constructed from three bearings to coastal landmarks.
And it doesn't offer a proof, just an assertion. But it's our familiar
value of a probability of 0.25 of being inside the triangle.
George.
contact George Huxtable, at george{at}hux.me.uk
or at +44 1865 820222 (from UK, 01865 820222)
or at 1 Sandy Lane, Southmoor, Abingdon, Oxon OX13 5HX, UK.
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