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Re: how are the tables for declination generated ? equation ? etc......
From: Jim Thompson
Date: 2005 Feb 11, 07:41 -0400
From: Jim Thompson
Date: 2005 Feb 11, 07:41 -0400
What type of calculator are you thinking of using? Something like a Texas Instruments programmable calculator? eg the TI-80's series: http://education.ti.com/us/product/tech/84p/features/features.html. Programming yourself: 1. For basic navigation formulae, see http://www.i-DEADLINK-com/bowditch/pdf/chapt22.pdf 2. For sight reduction formulae, see "Sight Reduction Procedures" in the Nautical Almanac (page 277 in 2004). 3. If you want to calculate celestial body positions electronically from basic formulae, then I don't know anything about that, except that it is a fair bit of work. I understand that Jan Meuss' book Astronomical Algorithmsis a standard reference, although there has been some evolution since then. See http://www.prairienet.org/cuas/faqcalc.shtml. Programming done for you: 1. You can purchase a navigation software package (Star Pilot) for the programmable TI hand calculators that can be uploaded to the calculator, turning it into a specialized navigation calculator. See http://www.starpath.com/catalog/accessories/1863.htm. 2. You can purchase navigational calculators with all that stuff built in, including electronic ephermides (almanac data). See http://jimthompson.net/boating/CelestialNav/CelestNotes/Tools.htm#Calculator http://www.starpath.com/catalog/accessories/starpilot/compare.pdf http://jimthompson.net/boating/CelestialNav/Calculators.htm 3. If you use a Palm or Pocket PC handheld computer, or a laptop, you can purchase software programs that do the same job too. See those last URLs. Jim Thompson jim2@jimthompson.net www.jimthompson.net -------------------- Outgoing email scanned by Norton Antivirus > -----Original Message----- > From: Courtney Thomas > I'm interested in possibly programming a calculator to handle some > navigation calculations to avoid carrying cumbersome tomes and am > consequently curious as to how astronomers come up with the declination > numbers, etc.. > A general source(s) of information on how I can calculate navigational > necessaries would be appreciated.
