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    Re: Calculating accurate apparent-angles between stars
    From: William Allen
    Date: 2003 Jan 7, 17:26 -0800

    Hello guys,
    
    I have been silently following the lunar discussion with fascination for the
    last year or so.  You might say I am on the lunar-tic fringe.
    
    I agree with George and his assessment of our needs for some detail behind
    Bruce's tables (which I own and have used, but like many, I wish I knew the
    rationale for what I am doing).
    
    Also, George, I really appreciate the write-ups you did explaining lunars.
    Am I correct that there are only 4 parts or have I missed number 5? I am not
    trying to rush you, because what you have done so far is absolutely amazing.
    Also, with all the discussion that has been going on, I don't know if you
    had given any thought to going back through these and making any additions
    or corrections that might apply.  I can understand, however, if you don't
    have the time to do this.  I have tried to make modifications as the emails
    came out, but I'm not sure I got everything right.
    
    On your suggestion, I bought the Text-Book on Sperical Astronomy by W.M.
    Smart, which has been extremely helpful.  I have also tried to find the
    Cotter book on the history of navigation, but I haven't been able to locate
    one.  Does anyone on the list have any ideas where this might be found?  I
    have been searching the web pretty diligently.
    
    Thanks again to all for their fascinating comments and hard work.
    
    Regards,
    Bill Allen
    
    M/V ELVICA
    (Moored in Santa Barbara, CA)
    
    -----Original Message-----
    From: Navigation Mailing List
    [mailto:NAVIGATION-L@LISTSERV.WEBKAHUNA.COM]On Behalf Of George Huxtable
    Sent: Tuesday, January 07, 2003 4:30 PM
    To: NAVIGATION-L@LISTSERV.WEBKAHUNA.COM
    Subject: Re: Calculating accurate apparent-angles between stars
    
    
    Fred Hebard asked, about Bruce Stark's Lunar Tables-
    
    >George
    >
    >I wonder whether you and Bruce could share your correspondence on his
    >method with the group.
    
    Reply from George-
    
    Well, our private correspondence covered those very questions that Bruce
    has just elucidated to the list, so I doubt it would add much more than he
    has just done.
    
    If there is more to add, I think it's up to Bruce to decide to provide it,
    or not. Many subscribers to this list, and owners of Bruce's tables, would
    value a full account of the thinking that went into their clever
    construction. We modern lunartics differ, I suggest, from old-time
    mariners: in general they would have been content with any tool that gave
    the right answers, whether or not they understood how it worked. I would
    like to think that most of us are driven by a greater degree of
    intellectual curiosity, and feel that we need to know what's going on.
    
    I hope Bruce can be persuaded to write an appendix to his lunar tables
    which explains their internal working. Will he take the hint? It's up to
    him.
    
    George Huxtable.
    
    
    

       
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