Almanac and Celestial Navigation Calculator

[Jono as 2234]

Brilliant. It brings back memories of vomiting below as one tried to work the sight and how next to impossible it was too get anything like an accurate sight when a small boat was jumping around.
Great effort to

[picklesandjesse]

Originally Posted by Russ

Great Spread Sheets but how do I download to actually USE it.
Sorry not enough of a computer geek
Russ

I'm with you Russ.

[grantmc]

I think this is a fantastic effort and great work. Thanks too for making it public domain. I'll definitely get out the old sextant and give it a try.

Originally Posted by double u

I always found the idea of combining a traditional, "handicraft"-type of skill like celestial with computers highly hilarious.

Your perception has validity, but in reality the trigonometry involved is significant. So even the most studious navigators will almost always use a calculator (slide rules till about 1975).

The alternative of course is to bypass the maths altogether and just use sight reduction tables, which I have always thought of as cheating. This is the method most people will have learnt since the second world war.

So for myself, whether using a spreadsheet or tables, they both have the equivalent cheat factor and hilarity.

[StoneCrab]

Originally Posted by gerson

Wonderful but i use:
https://stellarium-web.org/
stellarium.org
and there is a lot of almanacs in the market
why your is better?

Gerson, your comment is rather negative.

I appreciate the stellarium link but don't understand why you would be dismissive of anyone's efforts to share their work with us.

I doubt that there are many on CF that could put together any type of nav program, so lets support his efforts. This is exceptional!

[Apollo366]

I too applaud Sean's efforts, very good job and should be very user friendly too.

In the 70's & 80's I used sight reduction tables, Pub 249 version, and other table to arrive at Noon position or LOP, and twice stars. Took too much time away from sailing the boat AFAIC.

Will love to try out nest sunny day here.

Wayne

[MIRELOS]

amazing work and a great idea

[StoneCrab]

Is it even possible anymore to purchase a current Nautical Almanac?

I tried last year and couldn't find anyone selling them. I called the local planetarium for a referral and they told me that the pro's just use a computer program.

I think this spreadsheet will be a useful tool.

[Orion Jim]

Originally Posted by StoneCrab

Is it even possible anymore to purchase a current Nautical Almanac?

I tried last year and couldn't find anyone selling them. I called the local planetarium for a referral and they told me that the pro's just use a computer program.

I think this spreadsheet will be a useful tool.

One of many sources https://www.landfallnavigation.com/n...anac-3695.html

[Apollo366]

Hi Sean, I just tried using the Great Circle calculator and you don't have Hiva Oa or Nuka Hiva, Fr Polynesia in the data base.
As these are the two most common destinations leaving Balboa, Panama for the So Pacific, can you include them or show me how to add them please?

I haven't looked, but are all the other common Coconut Milk Run destinations included?

Many thanks,
Wayne

[Apollo366]

Originally Posted by StoneCrab

Is it even possible anymore to purchase a current Nautical Almanac?

I tried last year and couldn't find anyone selling them. I called the local planetarium for a referral and they told me that the pro's just use a computer program.

I think this spreadsheet will be a useful tool.

You might also look for a Perpetual or 5 yr Almanac at nautical book stores, mine is on the boat in St. Croix so I can't give you any other info just now.

Besides Nautical Bookstores are totally awesome place to visit & browse!

Wayne
Still Landlocked..

[StoneCrab]

Originally Posted by Orion Jim

One of many sources https://www.landfallnavigation.com/n...anac-3695.html

Thanks Jim.

[surazo]

thank SeanPatrick .Huge effort .We will wait the new version .Thanks

[hzcruiser]

Great job, Sean! One can tell how much time and sweat went into it!



I tried the beta 0.24 it with "Numbers" and "Open Office" on a Mac M1. Numbers could open it and seems to work, OO crashes on every attempt.



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[Midnight Son]

Downloaded and opened with libre office. No problem. I will subscribe to the thread for updates.

Best wishes all

[Invictus69]

Originally Posted by SeanPatrick

All,



Anyway, please try it out and let me know what you think. Thanks!


Regards,
Sean

Thanks for sharing - great job and I hope all will appreciate!
Until some years ago I have been occasionally using Starpath Perpetual Almanac (www.starpath.com), mostly for double checking the GPS chartplotter

Curious if someone can share experiences or comparison between the two.