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Frank, The four-minute thing sure is one interesting way to facilitate the plot,but I would assume that the method only apply to successive shots to one given star at a time, or stars that share identical SHA minute and decimal minute values (Say Betelgeuse and Alkaid on Oct 07-09, SHAs are 270°54.0′ and 152°54.0′ respectively )，also on a condition that the stars are bright enough and the azimuths are spaced good enough to form a fix. Geoffrey, I was wondering if there is a consensus on what would be the best phrase to count off seconds,it appears to me that 'one one thousand...' and 'one Mississippi' are the most common ones. Marty, Thanks,I think my procedure are almost the same to you,only difference being that I use a analog stopwatch. Mike, I might give it a try next time,but somehow I think it's a little difficult for me to try to get tangency while keep my pace of swing steady,both at the same time. Philippe, I think that is exactly what experienced navigators would do, let the celestial bodies sink or rise on their own, while saving you quite a bit of energy manipulating the drum,it sure helps in getting yourself consentrated in capturing the exact time of tangency.