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Articles

1976: Vol. LIII, No. 2

Sight Reduction - by Tables or by Celestial Navigation Computer?

Submitted
August 7, 2015
Published
2015-07-08

Abstract

The astro-navigator today, if he be not too conservative in his methods, is still seeking better ways of performing his calculation of the sight reduction problem to give him a position line. This paper presents three serious novelties and makes a detailed comparison of their attributes and benefits for the practicing navigator. These methods are : (a) The author’ s new Sight Reduction Tables K21 which, based on the entering arguments Latitude, Meridian Angle and Declination, give tabulated altitude and azimuth to an accuracy of 0.2' and 0.2“ respectively, for all celestial bodies and all Latitudes. (b) Two new small navigational computers, the Galaxy 1 and the Intercepter, which are specially programmed for the solution of intercept and azimuth. Procedures for using both the Rapid Inspection Tables and the computers are given in detail, to assist the navigator to make his choice. Comparisons are also made with the best known existing tables published by the U.S.A., Britain and the Hydrographic Office of the Yugoslav Navy.