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    Re: accuracy of automatic celestial navigation
    From: Robert Eno
    Date: 2002 Dec 6, 23:24 -0500

    We have to differentiate between observations at sea and observations on
    land with an artificial horizon.
    
    I agree that 2 miles at sea is acceptable and indeed satisfying, although I
    have known some mariners who claim that they have no problem with obtaining,
    consistently, accurate fixes to within less than a mile.
    
    I know that on land, I am very displeased with myself if I cannot pin myself
    down to within less than a mile -- even with a bubble attachment -- and I am
    not even all that proficient. At sea, 2 miles is fine for me, although I do
    like to do better if I can. There was an interesting article in Ocean
    Navigator several years ago in which the Captain of the ON training vessel,
    Ocean Star, obtained a perfect pinwheel fix at sea. Can't remember her full
    name: Virginia _______ but she is apparently a superb seaman and a skilled
    navigator. Some folks just have the touch.
    
    In the final analysis, and in looking at the discussions on how to get more
    accurate observations, it seems a tad overkill -- at least for PRACTICAL
    navigation purposes -- to carry along things like "Gavrishell dipmeters" and
    such. Please note that I am not ridiculing the idea but in reality, the
    ordinary seaman or yachtsman is probably not too concerned if s/he doesn't
    hit the bullseye. In mid-ocean, it just doesn't matter (except inasmuch as
    bragging rights over a tot of rum). Close to shore, it does, however, that's
    when one can start to employ coastal navigation techniques.
    
    And I can't imagine trying to wield a full sized bronze sextant with a 20
    power scope. Good Lord, my 6 x scope is heavy enough!
    
    I do, however, really like the idea that an automated astro-navigation
    system can achieve the kind of accuracy described by Jared Sherman. In this
    age of GPS supremacy, it constitutes astro-navigation's "revenge of the
    nerds". Makes me feel warm and fuzzy all over!
    
    Robert
    
    ----- Original Message -----
    From: George Huxtable 
    To: 
    Sent: Friday, December 06, 2002 7:05 PM
    Subject: Re: accuracy of automatic celestial navigation
    
    
    > For those of us that sail our small craft out at sea, my opinion is that
    if
    > we can achieve a precision of 2 min, we are doing pretty well. What do
    > others think?
    >
    > George Huxtable.
    
    
    

       
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