This book acts as a manual for the ancient methods of navigating by the stars which continue
to provide the sailor or pilot with a timeless means of determining location. Despite the
prevalence of GPS a comprehensive set of formulae that can be evaluated on any inexpensive
scientific calculator in the event of a catastrophic software or systems failure is a vital
failsafe. It also serves as a living link to centuries of explorers from centuries past.
Beginning with the basics of positional astronomy this guide moves on to the more complex math
necessary to understand the ephemerides tables showing the future positions of the stars and
planets. These astronomical almanacs were the satellite navigation of their day. The objective
of this book is twofold: to provide the reader with a concise comprehensible manual on
positional astronomy as it applies to astro-navigation and to furnish the concise algorithms
for finding the position of the Sun and various navigational stars at any given instant. In a
world where too many mariners and aeronauts rely solely on technology and are vulnerable to
solar flares electrical issues and the like this knowledge can be a life-saving backup not
to mention a fascinating study in its own rights. Included is an exact mathematical way to
determine your position in the air or on the sea far more quickly and accurately than by using
the old celestial navigational method without even needing to know or understand the
underlying mathematics. There is even a section that teaches how to measure the azimuth of a
star using an analog wrist watch so if a sextant gets damaged locating position is still
possible. This book offers mathematicians and adventurers a way to determine position when the
skies go dark. The U.S. Navy has recently realized that their electronic navigation systems are
vulnerable to cyberattack and as a result has instructed the Naval Academy to begin teaching
celestial navigation again.
