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Articles

1981: Vol. LVIII, No. 1

The Star/Planet Detector

Submitted
August 6, 2015
Published
2015-07-21

Abstract

With the recent major advances in electronic (radio aid) and satellite navigation, we are also witnessing a sharp increase of interest in the modernisation of instruments utilised in the observations and calculations necessary for autonomous (i.e. celestial) navigation, because this time-proven conventional method is still considered essential for checking purposes as a guarantee of safety at sea. The subject o f this article is a device considered to be an indispensable accessory for the exploitation o f celestial navigation; that is to say, a “transformer of coordinates” (or “star detector”) necessary for the preparation of observations and for the identification of the celestial bodies observed. The instrument described in this article and designed by the Author has the merit of extreme flexibility in use as there are only two component parts, valid for both hemispheres and for any latitude of the observer.