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UNB's Introduction to Geodetic Astronomy (LN No. 49) is also available online here
. While it, too, is dated in some respects,
the basic concepts of geodetic astronomy haven't changed much and I still teach from
it.
-- Richard Langley

Quoting Peter Fogg :

> FIELD ASTRONOMY FOR SURVEYORS
> by: G.G. Bennett & J.G. Freislich
>
> *From the Preface*:
> "This textbook is the outcome of a long period of close collaboration
> between
> the authors in the teaching of field astronomy at the University of New
> South
> Wales, Australia. The scope of this book is confined to those aspects of
> astronomical theory and practice, which are appropriate for observations
> made
> with a modern single second theodolite. Included in the book are many
> examples of observations taken in both hemispheres. The calculation of these
> observations is given in greater detail than that normally required, in
> order
> to help the student reduce his own observations. Astronomical methods of
> high accuracy required for the geodetic control of continental areas have
> not
> been included.
> In such a well-established subject of study in surveying education as field
> astronomy, it may be presumed that there is very little new that can be
> written. However, over their years of teaching, the authors found that there
> was no textbook for student reference which used conventions, which were not
> biased to one hemisphere and which also covered a systematic treatment of
> predicting observing programmes and analysing the results of observations
> made with a theodolite.
> ...
> It is the opinion of the authors that a study of field astronomy has many
> desirable
> features, which make it attractive as a discipline and as a subject of
> interest to both students and experienced surveyors. Besides gaining an
> understanding of celestial phenomena, a study of field astronomy exercises
> the student in spherical trigonometry, convergence of meridians, error
> theory
> and least squares methods as well as theodolite construction and adjustment,
> all of which complement the instruction in other surveying subjects. The
> student also gains the satisfaction of being able to find his geographical
> position and determine the azimuth of a terrestrial line with a high degree
> of accuracy with little more equipment than is required for normal surveying
> operations."
>
> This book, long out of print, has now been made available online by George
> Bennett.
> Go to:
> http://gbennett.customer.netspace.net.au/
> then the link at bottom left entitled:
> 'Field Astronomy'.
> This should open a PDF file of about 12.7 megabytes; the 249-page book.
>
> About it, George Bennett writes to me recently:
>
> The book was first published in 1979 and reprinted in 1980 and was directed
> towards the surveying fraternity, especially to those studying the subject
> at the Uni. It has been out of print for some time and hasn't been reprinted
> because of the general use of GPS. However as you know there is still a
> residual interest in celestial navigation and this book provides substantial
> sections on spherical trig, position lines etc. The main difference between
> the surveyor's and the navigator's applications is the use of a theodolite
> for the former and a sextant for the latter. For this reason one could
> obtain most of what one needs for navigation from the book. One big
> advantage is the use of generalisation of the elements used in the solution
> of the astronomical triangle. No longer is it necessary to draw a diagram
> and derive a relationship for each problem.
>
> I've made up and attached here a much smaller PDF file comprising just the
> four 'Contents' pages, as I think a perusal of them is possibly the best
> introduction to the book.  Within the book, I think the page of formulae
> alone is potentially especially valuable to all who may be interested in
> almost any aspect of nav.
>
> >
>


===============================================================================
 Richard B. Langley                            E-mail: lang@unb.ca
 Geodetic Research Laboratory                  Web: http://www.unb.ca/GGE/
 Dept. of Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering    Phone:    +1 506 453-5142
 University of New Brunswick                   Fax:      +1 506 453-4943
 Fredericton, N.B., Canada  E3B 5A3
     Fredericton?  Where's that?  See: http://www.city.fredericton.nb.ca/
===============================================================================



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