Almanac and Celestial Navigation Calculator
 

All,


Here are some links to a spreadsheet I've been working on:


Zipped spreadsheet.


Unzipped spreadsheet.



***NOTE: This is a beta version and is not intended for use in actual navigation. It is only guaranteed to work in current versions of Microsoft Excel.***

Try it out and let me know what you think. If you could test it with some actual sight data, that would be excellent! If you find any bugs, please let me know here or see the "Instructions" tab in the spreadsheet.



Current list of features:

• Perpetual almanac which lists basic data necessary for celestial navigation
• Sky chart showing traditional nav bodies above the horizon
• Data series calculator for comparison/analysis
• DR and sight reduction calculator
• Position log
• Great circle route calculator including internal database of ~15,500 cities worldwide
• Internal delta-T values for dates between 500 BC and AD 2030
• Custom delta-T value fields for dates outside the above range - or whenever
• Only 2MB

Some stats:

• Total Sheets: 18
• Cells with data: 180,868
• Tables: 4
• Formulas: 8,373
• Charts: 2
• Macros: 26
• Days I've been working on it so far: 237

Don't worry about the macros, they just make the buttons work. If you want, you can open Visual Basic and see everything they do.


Screenshots:




https://i.imgur.com/rJm2ysLh.png


https://i.imgur.com/Btg3DGJh.png


https://i.imgur.com/1ojLG07h.png


https://i.imgur.com/aeMVDW1h.png


https://i.imgur.com/fPOCglch.png


https://i.imgur.com/kKHI9aEh.png


https://i.imgur.com/yzqJYrgh.png




The data series calculator can be used to make charts like this for comparison/analysis:


https://i.imgur.com/N6pK4S9h.png




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


Regards,
Sean

Re: Almanac and Celestial Navigation Calculator
 

Amazing effort, I may have to dig out the old sextant from under a pile of other random stuff and eventually learn to use it!

Re: Almanac and Celestial Navigation Calculator
 

Thanks! The destination is already set for you on the map screen. ;)

Re: Almanac and Celestial Navigation Calculator
 

I'm amazed by your effort, and jealous of skills. It gives me incentive to dust off the old sextant.
Fifty years ago I started to learn celestial navigation at the Hayden Planetarium in NYC. I didn't finish the course and have forgotten everything I learned at the time.
I've always wanted to relearn but I fear I'm over the hill to pursue it. Your lovely program gives me some hope.
Thank you.

Re: Almanac and Celestial Navigation Calculator
 

Just found a new bug: the data series calculator gives incorrect distances for stars. :facepalm: That will be fixed in the next version.

Re: Almanac and Celestial Navigation Calculator
 

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

Re: Almanac and Celestial Navigation Calculator
 

Great job and really appreciate the amount of effort you put into it.

Re: Almanac and Celestial Navigation Calculator
 

This looks great! Always wanted to take the shots and plug it into a good tool.

Wondering if the updated version(s) will be on the same link? Haven't looked at the link yet - but will there be a note regarding the versions?

Thanks again

Re: Almanac and Celestial Navigation Calculator
 

I have looked for something like this before. Thank you. Will play with it when I get a chance. Buried in projects now.

Re: Almanac and Celestial Navigation Calculator
 

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

Re: Almanac and Celestial Navigation Calculator
 

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

Re: Almanac and Celestial Navigation Calculator
 

My question also, I would like to keep up with your efforts.

Re: Almanac and Celestial Navigation Calculator
 

The spreadsheet is stored on DropBox (a cloud storage service). When you click on the link, by default it opens in the DropBox Excel viewer. There should be a download button in the top right corner, right next to the Sign Up button. It looks like a down arrow with a horizontal bar below. Click that and then select "Direct download" from the menu.

Kamen

Re: Almanac and Celestial Navigation Calculator
 

Way cool. I've been dreaming of a tool like this for years. Amazing effort. I will give it a try over the next few weeks, and let you know if I find any bugs.

Re: Almanac and Celestial Navigation Calculator
 

Bravo Sean! Impressive work. I did the Yachtmaster Ocean theory, most oif which was Celestial navigation and was drawn to the course by its title "The Study of Heavenly Bodies"
From the little that i remember from 30 years ago i notice one of your screenshots is for details of the moon but surely it should be "lower limb" ?
Andrew