Handbook of Celestial Navigation?

[kellyp08]

I also have Mary Blewitt's book (and should have mentioned it in my previous post). I agree - it's a great book.

[Stemci]

Check out Chis Noland's YouTube channel "Navigation Training". He has a lot of info in the show notes and he has very good videos on Celestial Navigation. Steve

[carstenb]

Dockhead

You can whet your appetite on this

Celestial Navigation

It actually is pretty good an best of all it is free, although I still like H.O.249

Well at least now you know what you are going to be doing evenings, an you'll have to stop at 1 martini

[newhaul]

Here's one I use. Simple and concise.
Celestial Navigation

[rognvald]

Dockhead,
The best primer on celestial navigation, in my opinion, is "Practical Celestial Navigation" by Susan P. Howell. It is a common-sense, progressive study that is written clearly and concisely with ample examples and problems to hone your skills. I studied it 25 years ago, devoting one hour each morning for a month and was shooting the sun, moon and "easy" stars when finished. In a very short time, I was able to get 3 star fixes within +/- 2 nm and once proficient even better. Noon sun sights and moon sights are the easiest and the best way to acquire sextant adjustment skills and swinging accuracy. Highly recommended! You can do the math yourself or buy a handheld computer. It is available at CELESTAIRE. Good luck and good shooting!

[Scott Berg]

I've taught from several including Blewitt and the Gov't pubs. My favorite is "A Star to Steer Her By" Students seem to take easily to the form based instruction and the prose is easy to read. Nice book... http://www.amazon.com/Star-Steer-Her...o+steer+her+by

[patprice]

Me also Mary Blewitt. When I learned I read some others but Mary was by far the easiest and best.

[Djarraluda]

Originally Posted by captmikem

I have recommended this simple little book to many many people and they have always thanked me. It is time tested, easy to read, easy to follow.

Celestial Navigation for Yachtsmen by Mary Blewitt

Absolutely endorse this one, she is great

[TeddyDiver]

Bowditch has some 250pages about the subject.. Thou I'm not sure how practical it is compared to the other books

BR Teddy

[mawtty]

Mary Blewitt for me.
Easy to understand, straight to the point.

[seandepagnier]

You may consider checking your calculations with the celestial navigation plugin for opencpn as well.

[allatsea99]

Excellent Dockhead this is topical for me too, and I'd say for the US Navy by the looks of an earlier thread. I did a Whitbread race.. my skipper could do his sights and have our position in the Southern Ocean faster than I could have his coffee ready. I aspire to this one day. I'd be really interested to know though: a) what learning materials incorporate contemporary 'add ons' - i.e. algorithm models for computer based calcs and, b) the use of electronically sourced sight tables. Thank you Mikemenza, for the contribution from the stars toy - any help to become familiar with the 'heavens' is welcome. Sounds fun.

[ATBster]

Originally Posted by adlib2

I obtained CelNav certification with the Power Squadron using their books and Bowditch.
All I needed over one winter.

I've taken the 1st of two celestial navigation courses offered by the USPS, Junior Navigation (JN, focusing on sun sights). Navigation (N) is available after that, which adds lunar and stars. The USPS is a terrific organization with several educational offerings. If you are land based, consider a local chapter. If cruising, an internet "Cyber" membership.
ATBster

(Full disclosure, Past Commander, San Diego Sail & Power Squadron)
M/V Moondance

[Gareth Hughes]

I used "Ocean Yacht Navigator", by Kenneth Wilkes. He has a companion exercise book too, which I didn't use. When I did Ocean Yachtmaster, it was the recommended text.
I like the Mary Blewitt book too.

You'll need more than one book, so you can see different explanations of the same thing.

I'm old enough to predate GPS and SatNav, it was amazing in those days how many people got away with just using noon sights.

Having said that, if I were teaching myself from scratch today, I'd learn and practice noon sight and possibly Polaris sights first. Then ease myself in stars, moon and planets.

[seaward 42]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZCwgoUxXWs