NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
From: Frank Reed
Date: 2012 Jun 23, 23:39 -0700
Details...
TODAY/TOMORROW (SUNDAY) is the second scheduled opportunity this summer to practice your celestial navigation skills and especially sextant use. And if you're game, try a LUNAR.
Sunday, June 24, 4:00pm-6:00pm at Beavertail Point in Jamestown, Rhode Island about 60 minutes by car from Mystic, CT (this is at lat,lon = 41.4493,-71.3994, you can drop those numbers directly into the search box at Google Maps). Both the Sun and Moon will be in the sky which means we can do sights for a standard two-body fix, or traditional 19th century sights, and even lunars. Beavertail is very easy to get to, and it's a beautiful state park, well worth a visit. I (Frank Reed) will be there with a couple of sextants, lots of advice, and as much celestial navigation enthusiasm as I can muster on a lazy Sunday! :) Bring your sextant if you have one. There is NO CHARGE, but attendance is limited to 12 people, and please email me back if you plan to be there. There will also probably be a couple of other navigation experts from the NavList community.
Short directions:
From Connecticut and points southwest, take US-1 from the Mystic area (or possibly I-95 to RI route 93 to bypass Westerly and pick up US-1 on the other side). Follow US-1 all the way to the exit for Jamestown and Newport, route 138 EAST (about three miles past the intersection with route 138 west). By the way, mapping software and GPS nav systems may suggest that you take route 138 nearly all the way. That's a bad idea; route 1 is faster. Cross the Jamestown Bridge. Get off at either exit in Jamestown and follow the signs towards the south to the Beavertail. Pay attention to posted speed limits. Park your car in the second parking lot and walk towards the lighthouse. It's just about one hour from Mystic, CT to Beavertail Point.
From Boston or points north, follow I-95 south from Providence and pick up RI route 4 South (left exit). Follow route 4 through the merge with US-1 and then immediately take route 138 east to Jamestown and Newport. Get off at either exit in Jamestown and follow the signs towards the south to the Beavertail. Pay attention to posted speed limits. Park your car in the second parking lot and walk towards the lighthouse. It's about one hour and 45 minutes from Boston, MA to Beavertail Point.
From points east, cross the Newport Bridge to Jamestown ($4 toll normally) or go through Providence (see above). Get off at either exit in Jamestown and follow the signs towards the south to the Beavertail. Pay attention to posted speed limits. Park your car in the second parking lot and walk towards the lighthouse. It's about 15 minutes from central Newport to Beavertail Point.
Note: if you can't make it this weekend, there will be other similar gatherings at Beavertail in June and July. Here's the schedule:
1) Sunday, June 10: [DONE!] 9:00am-11:00am. Sun in the east, Moon in WSW.
2) Sunday, June 24: 4:00pm-6:00pm. Moon in the south near meridian, Sun in the west.
3) Saturday, July 14: 9:00am-11:00am. Sun in the east, Moon high in the south near meridian.
4) Sunday, July 22: 4:00pm-6:00pm. Moon high in south, Sun in SW.
Also note: this is not a substitute for a navigation class. If you receive this notice indirectly, e.g. a forwarded email, please do not attend as a "navigation novice". You should have at least basic familiarity with a sextant if you plan to join us. If you DO have some experience, even basic minimal familiarity with sextants and celestial navigation, all are welcome. But again, please email me back if you plan to attend.
Frank Reed
Frank@ReedNavigation.com
Centennia Software
Conanicut Island USA
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