Sources for Sight Reduction Software ?

[Roy M]

The thread on the CD Nautical almanac got me going. Anyone have suggestions for a "fill in the blanks" software program with built-in (or not) almanac (for 229, 249 or other)?

This would be very cool for those nasty days when you want to stay huddled in the cockpit or your berth instead of capturing that rolling pencil, cleaning your salty glasses to read the fine print, or cleaning the vomit off the chart table.

[Randy]

Here's a link you might like: Celestial Navigation Calculator

[wolfenzee]

Originally Posted by Randy

Here's a link you might like: Celestial Navigation Calculator

Works great if you are in a place where you can get internet access, which rules out the need for a sextant. What is needed is a stand alone sight reduction calculator to load onto a laptop (something really good would put your location on the charts).

Stormy Weather Software has alot of free downloads (though for trial only)for boat type software.
Nautical Almanac, Astronomical Almanac, Marine Navigation

There must be some free sight reduction software out there somewhere

[sneuman]

Second on Randy's link. Works great, with the proviso from Wolfenzee

[LakeSuperior]

I haven't thoroughly tested this spreadsheet but the price is right. Along the lines of what you were looking for...free and downloadable.


AstronavXls navigation software

[btrayfors]

Wolfenzee and sneuman...

You don't need the Internet. The calculator works from internal macros.

Save the calculator htm on your computer. It's a very nice little 23kb file. You can use it anytime, on- or off-line.

Bill

[cabo_sailor]

After looking at the spiffy little calculator, it appears it is just designed for sun shots. It says celestial object but I didn't see a spot to specify such as venus or rigel, etc.

Still kind of neat,

Thanks,
Rich

[btrayfors]

Originally Posted by cabo_sailor

After looking at the spiffy little calculator, it appears it is just designed for sun shots. It says celestial object but I didn't see a spot to specify such as venus or rigel, etc.

Still kind of neat,

Thanks,
Rich

I just looked at it quickly, but it seems to me it can be used for ANY celestial object. You just pull the specifics for the celestial object from the Nautical Almanac (GHA/SHA/dec/etc.), and plug them in. It doesn't care which body.

Bill

[sneuman]

Originally Posted by cabo_sailor

After looking at the spiffy little calculator, it appears it is just designed for sun shots. It says celestial object but I didn't see a spot to specify such as venus or rigel, etc.

Still kind of neat,

Thanks,
Rich

That's SHA (siderial hour angle)

[Kijit]

Check this software out:

Navigator Light Software Download

I've played a little with their old version. It might meet your needs.

[sneuman]

Originally Posted by btrayfors

Wolfenzee and sneuman...

You don't need the Internet. The calculator works from internal macros.

Save the calculator htm on your computer. It's a very nice little 23kb file. You can use it anytime, on- or off-line.

Bill

Hi Bill,
I didn't quite understand yours. I have a TI-86, which is programmable (though I haven't yet figured out how to program it). Where can I find the code for that?

[wolfenzee]

What I am looking for is not just software that does the spread sheet work but also has sight reduction tables...I found some produced by the U.S.Naval Observatory "
http://www.celnav.de/page3.htm
Interactive Computer Ephemeris 0.51 (ICE) by U.S. Naval Observatory
This powerful DOS program calculates Greenwich hour angle and declination for Sun, Moon, planets, and the navigational stars with a precision equal to that given in the Nautical Almanac. ICE is very similar to the former Floppy Almanac but covers a time span of almost 250 (!) years. Rising, setting, and twilight times are also provided. It further performs sight reduction (including altitude corrections) for any assumed position. Beside its navigational functions, ICE provides highly accurate ephemerides for astronomers. Results can be stored in an output file. ICE, predecessor of MICA (Multiyear Interactive Computer Almanac), is in the public domain now and no longer controlled or supported by USNO. This program is a must!"

[NavPak ECS]

The NavPak Pro and Pocket Edition demos are fully enabled for sight reduction and plotting. The Pro version is for Windows 98 through 7. The Pocket Edition is for Windows Mobile or Pocket PC OS.

[hellosailor]

John Manson's "Navigation" software, which runs on any old Palm PDA or Palm Treo phone, does nicely.

$25 will buy a used Palm III or better, and they're damn faithful servants that fit in a shirt pocket. The software can be found at:

Pilot Navigator - Navigation 5.8 (Mobile), from John Manson - Free Downloads on ZDNet | Shareware, Trialware, Evaluation Software

and it is either free or $15 these days, zdnet seems to indicate both.