NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: Mixter's P. of N. and syrup in an A.H.
From: Doug Royer
Date: 2005 Feb 22, 13:04 -0800
From: Doug Royer
Date: 2005 Feb 22, 13:04 -0800
Doug, Just as a matter of note, assuming that the terrain was not flat, would you not agree that following your position on 7.5'-series topographic maps, with terrestrial cross bearings as needed would have been sufficient to locate you within 0.1' of your position? I.E., that the celestial nav was more for the exercise than for finding out where you were. Fred Yes sir that is the case.Topograghical maps and mil-grid projections are what we had covering the terrain we followed from beginning to end. We went 3 days straight without being able to take any celestial sights. Relying on map positions etc. Took sights when I could for something to do. The terrain was not flat in the least. Even while traversing the desert pans/arroyos it is anything but flat. Crossed 3 mountain ranges. Chocolates, Cargo Muchachas and the White Ranges. Anything but flat. Major variations in elevations from day to day or even hr to hr. I just don't have the info Alex requested on accuracy and used this as an example that with all the accumulated errors in equipement/procedures made we still would have been close to the pick up point at the end.