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> The correction of the noon curve for motion is nothing more than the 
correction for a running fix. Imagine solving a noon curve set of sights by 
plotting LOPs. You would have to advance the earlier sights to "catch up" to 
the later ones. Since all of the LOPs are nearly parallel (the Sun's azimuth 
changes by a relatively small angle), this advancing is equivalent to 
changing the observed altitudes by an amount proportional to speed and 
elapsed time. Try it on paper if you need to convince yourself.
>
> -FER

What I find interesting is that much of this talk centers around these
two points: 1) the motion of the ship, especially in a N/S direction,
and 2) the change in declination of the sun during the sight process.

When I use the computer program on the ship for these sights (SkyMate
Pro), I tell the computer the time I want the fix calculated for (I
input either LAN or the nearest half hour), as well as the course and
speed of the ship.  Assuming that the DR track is reasonably accurate,
the lines are calculated, taking into account the varyed declination,
and automatically advanced or retarded, taking into account ship's
motion, to give me the 95% probablitly fix.  I then compare this with
the exact GPS reading taken at that minute to see what kind of error I
am getting.  With the sun and Venus, I consistantly got less than 1'
of error in both Latitude and Longitude, and slightly more with the
moon.

I am scheduled to take a very LONG ocean passage this next tour on my
ship, so I intend to do quite a bit of Celnav during it.  I will try
to "publish" a Nav journal on here when I am through.  I intend to try
this method over a wide range of latitudes and Northerly declinations,
as well as common sights and other exotica (expect numerous lunars as
well).

Jeremy
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