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**tkeithlu** · 27-12-2019, 05:56

Do any celestial navigation users on the forum have advice regarding online celestial nav courses?

I recently lucked into an unused 1946 US Maritime Commission sextant. No index error, hasn't been dropped. Freighter level, not fancy Navy level, but sturdy and good for me. The math kicked my butt until I took Vanderbilt University's basic course, but I need more. What can you recommend for learning celestrial, given I'm not near a class therein?

stimpsonjcat · 27-12-2019, 06:13

Also interested.

flyingnut40 · 27-12-2019, 07:59

follow ;-)

**GordMay** · 27-12-2019, 08:26

This course serves to address the lack of widely-available instruction in astronavigation. Specifically targeted here are the steps of performing a sight reduction to obtain a terrestrial position using this technique. These steps are explicitly illustrated after a brief overview provides a solid context for their relevance. Difficult concepts such as plotting on a navigational chart and the complexities of using of navigational publications should be better served through this online content delivery.
Free ➥ https://my.vanderbilt.edu/astronav/

**tkeithlu** · 27-12-2019, 13:40

Hey, Gord. That's the course I've already done; I'm looking for a next step. The course really helped.

I did practice a bunch of sun sights today, using my GPS Lat/Lon as my Assumed Position. I got five Lines of Position, all 1.4 to 1.9 nautical miles south of me. I suspect a systematic error, probably in my Dip; I was sitting on top of the lighthouse I maintain, and may have the height wrong. Otherwise, my GMT may have been off.

SeanPatrick · 27-12-2019, 20:59

https://www.starpath.com/

Haven't taken the course myself, but I've heard lots of good things about it.

EDIT: Also, if you have any specific questions, I'd be more than happy to help.

El Pinguino · 27-12-2019, 22:38

Lookee here.. ttps://www.dropbox.com/s/a5blh1rgvi...ation.pdf?dl=0

Written by a simple sailorman for simple sailormen...

adlib2 · 28-12-2019, 08:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkeithlu

Do any celestial navigation users on the forum have advice regarding online celestial nav courses?

I recently lucked into an unused 1946 US Maritime Commission sextant. No index error, hasn't been dropped. Freighter level, not fancy Navy level, but sturdy and good for me. The math kicked my butt until I took Vanderbilt University's basic course, but I need more. What can you recommend for learning celestrial, given I'm not near a class therein?

I know there are courses, but can't remember them. Got me thinking; I have a Freighberger {German} Sextant in a box for sale if anyone is interested.

Alan

wizoc · 28-12-2019, 08:25

Try maryland school of sailing. Tom does a course which includes some video classrooms

meirriba · 28-12-2019, 08:29

If you may live with an electronic book (or paper...) check "Celestial Navigation for Yachtsmen" by Mary Blewitt.
Concise, clear and easy to understand/follow.
IMHO the best of all available handbooks on the subject.

SVTatia · 28-12-2019, 09:05

I also did a lot of looking for an online course, but I found that well written books with proper exercises served me better. I had more than one to remove the doubts and get different explanations. The ones mentioned above are great, and my go to is Burch's book for his online course.

Hardhead · 28-12-2019, 09:07

There was a DVD teaching celestial navigation - by William F. Buckley - advertised on this website a year or so ago. Looks like it's also for sale here:

https://www.thesailingchannel.tv/pro...plified-video/

https://www.amazon.com/Wm-Buckley-Ce.../dp/B000PMGHCS

carioca · 28-12-2019, 09:24

1.4 to 1.9 nm error isn't bad. Check your time via WWV. It's not unusual for the GPS time to be several seconds or more off from what WWV is broadcasting. So four seconds of timing error is one nm of error. With practice, under ideal conditions, you can routinely be within +/- .1nm of error. Dial (303) 499-7111 for WWV (Colorado), and (808) 335-4363 for WWVH (Hawaii)
Enjoy the new toy!

**skipmac** · 28-12-2019, 09:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by meirriba

If you may live with an electronic book (or paper...) check "Celestial Navigation for Yachtsmen" by Mary Blewitt.
Concise, clear and easy to understand/follow.
IMHO the best of all available handbooks on the subject.

Second this recommendation. I took off with a sextant, Blewitt's book and zero experience and managed to navigate from Panama to the VI and back to Florida.

I might add that if you can get within a couple of miles of your position from the deck of a small boat at sea then you're doing great. Also a position within a couple of miles gets you close enough so when you make landfall you will easily spot a landmark and go with piloting from there.