NavList:

Apollo navigtion techniques

Thanks to several Navlisters for showing us the Apollo nav systems.

I've just had a quick look at http://spaceref.com/missions-and-programs/nasa/apollo/apollo-lunar-landing-mission-symposium/apollo-navigation-guidance-and-control.html. Fascinating! I think there were 2 "sextants", one on the command module and the other , LEM stella alignment scope. I could not find much detail about the main sextant on the command module, but there is a photo of Jim Lovel using it on I think, Apollo 8? 

The scariest thing for me was the visual lining up the re-entry corrodor on Apollo 13. ! How was that done? The Hollywood film has Lovell flying it by hand using simple transit marks of earth against corner of window?

I would appreciate any information on Apollo nav sytems,especially the main sextant,  how position was calculated from 2 star angles( not using our conventional LOPs I think.) All done on the then "powerful" 16 bit memory chip computer?

Best wishes

Francis