NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Ex-Meridian Altitude
From: Doug Royer
Date: 2004 Oct 11, 10:28 -0700
From: Doug Royer
Date: 2004 Oct 11, 10:28 -0700
I would appreciate any help by members of the list who are versed in mathimatics.Perhaps members who are versed in antiquated celestial procedures could help too. I have been collecting old navigation books this past year and finally got around to inspecting the contents of a couple of them. Of the 3 seperate volumns I have the newest one was printed in 1923.The next oldest one was printed in 1916.I've yet to get to the book printed in 1909. Here is my question: In the book printed in 1916 the chapter on finding latitude by the Ex-meridian procedure has the following passage: "While ex-meridians are retained the "Phi-Prime" and the "Phi-Second" sight is omitted.It has no longer any practical value since the St. Hiliare method accomplishes all that it used to." The chapter dealing with ex-meridian sight procedures in the 1923 book has no referance to the above at all. I haven't had time to yet read the 1909 book to see if the above is mentioned. My questions to you guys are : What is the author trying to tell me? What is the "Phi-Prime" and "Phi-Second" ? Thanks in advance.
