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A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: Computing tables
From: Tony S
Date: 1999 Sep 08, 5:21 PM
From: Tony S
Date: 1999 Sep 08, 5:21 PM
Rick: You ask the $64,000 question! Much depends on the data base used (as pointed out by Gordon Talge in the just previous message) and the accuracy expected. When implemented on a pc even to its maximum precision of 15-16 places, none will coincide exactly with that of the Nautical Almanac. What can be expected from more limited calculators is problematical. I'll venture the opinion that all methods are within practicable limits. Understanding the bases and limits of each is entwined. Tony (author of Navig94 and its successors) "Richard B. Emerson" wrote: > > In recent posts, some people referred to computing their own tables. > Aside from the issue of selecting the correct equations, the question > of computational accuracy comes to mind. I'm thinking of issues such > as rounding error and the occasional FPU that has subtle but > detectable algorithm errors. What checks are made to verify that the > resulting tables are computationally sound? > > Rick > S/V One With The Wind, Baba 35