Anyone ever tried celestial navigation? I bought the books and a sextant and started to learn it but didn't get very far because I don't have a good place to practice where I can see the horizon because I live in the city.

I plan on taking it with me when I go sailing in the British Virgin Islands this summer though. It would be pretty cool to be able to sail around the world navigating by the stars!

My knowledge of celestial navigation is the North star, so I would need to learn a bit if I was going to sail by the stars! As the stars move throughout the night and then throughout the year would you have to know exactly where they should be any time in the year to be able to accurately navigate them?

The old fashioned way!  I think it would be a useful skill to have in case one's on-board computer gives up the ghost, but does it not require that the day/night sky be clear in order to accurately determine one's position?

Kingfisher

Hi Xeract, Yup, there's a book you buy each year that tells you what the position of of the sun, moon and stars each each day. Then you have to adjust for time of day, your elevation and the tides if you are at sea. If your measurements are off by a hair your position could be off by a lot.

You need clear skies to get your measurements so you have to guestimate your position when it's cloudy by figuring out your average speed and compass course until the skies clear up.

There is also a program called starry night that gives you a picture of the sky at any time of any day. I don't have it but a friend does and its quite amazing what it can do. I think you can print out a sky map from it too, so you can match one to exactly when you will need it.

I suppose that wouldn't be much good if you were actually out in the wild, but for leaning I'm sure it would be helpful.

I'll have to check that out. Thanks!