Celestial Navigation in the GPS Age

This is my favorite book about celestial navigation. I got a few books on celestial navigation and they all provide the mechanical steps on how to do a celestial navigation fix, typically the noon shot and the St Hilaire method. Some of them go a bit into theory and positional astronomy, but there's very little connection between the theory and the practice. John Karl succeeds where others have failed: he clearly explains why the practical steps work. Just for the explanation of why the St Hilaire method works, this book is worth buying. John Karl is obviously well trained in science and engineering and goes in depth into all the methods of celestial navigation, leaving no stone unturned. I cannot recommend this book highly enough if you have an engineering or mathematical background and not only want to learn how to do a celestial navigation fix but also want to get a fundamental understanding of why these techniques work. Also covers reduction using the HO 229, HO 249 and electronic calculator sight reduction methods. The price is also quite reasonable. If you get only one book on the subject, this is the one to buy.

Clear, concise prose. Excellent review of the theory of celestial navigation followed by numerous examples, including some uncommon applications.Best suited for the intermediate celestial navigator, in my opinion, not for the absolute beginner, given the brevity of some of the explanations. Plenty of content for advanced students, too.Thoroughly enjoyed this book and learned quite a few new aspects of celestial navigation. Highly recommend.

I am an old school navigator experienced in piloting and sextant use who had been away from oceanic travels raising a family in Boulder, CO. Needed a thorough review of celestial nav before a Hawaii to SF boat delivery. This book is well laid out and easy to read and perform calculations. Was able to do all forms including lunars which matched well with my iPhone GPS app readings. Would recommend the book as a guide fo both those first timers and old hands reviewing celestial methods. Fun reading.

At first glance you will be able to reduce a sight and do the basics. As you go more into the book it will touch on the more advanced sections of astro nav. If all you want is to take one shot to check your skill this book is for you. If you want take five shots of the sun average the sextant error on a plot and reduce that plot without using tables. This book is for you. Ever dreamed of making your own astronav spreadsheet or computer program. Well this book is for you. If your intrested in astro. This book should be one of your tools

A very good explanation in a crowded field. Well worth the time for those willing to invest the time and effort to read it and follow along.

Maybe this book is worth more than one star, but for being a "revised" edition in the first example of working up a sun sight on page 40 there is an addition error.Now this is a complex subject with lots to memorize and with such a basic error I kept asking my self "what else is wrong in this book." I lost confidence in the book. If there are more errors like this I am not going to figure out what is going on. If you have someone well versed in the subject that you can study with who can spot other errors it would be a good book. If not don't buy the book.

after some searching on the internet i found this book. i was looking for a study book for my students deck officer at a maritime collge. i found this book to be easy to read, very good for students for whom english is NOT their native language.the examples are clear and easy to understand. i think this book can be used to only teach the basics or entice the students to go deeper into the celestial navigation.

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