Astronavigation A Method for Determining Exact Position by the Stars
This book acts as a manual for the ancient methods of navigating by the stars, which continue to provide the sailor or pilot with a timeless means of determining location. Despite the prevalence of GPS, a comprehensive set of formulae that can b
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Astronavigation A Method for Determining Exact Position by the Stars
Astronavigation
K.A. Zischka
Astronavigation A Method for Determining Exact Position by the Stars
123
K.A. Zischka Sparrows Point, MD USA
ISBN 978-3-319-47993-4 DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-47994-1
ISBN 978-3-319-47994-1
(eBook)
Library of Congress Control Number: 2016955314 © Springer International Publishing AG 2018 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. Printed on acid-free paper This Springer imprint is published by Springer Nature The registered company is Springer International Publishing AG The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland
Preface
As a mathematician, I conceived the idea to write about the scientific part of navigation long before GPS became available to the public. From the outset, it was meant to be invariant with regard to the fast-changing technology available to navigators. It was also meant to be a manual that would make the navigator less dependent on the availability of other ephemerides. However, I did not want to turn the clock back by ignoring the state of developments in the fields of calculator and PC technology. Even the most casual observer must admit that we have achieved a level in our general education that renders anyone who does not know how to operate a personal computer illiterate. Today, the average student aged twelve or above should be able to handle the algebraic symbolic language as employed in all advances calculators without even understanding the underlying mathematics of the formulae used in navigation. I also wanted to draw a clear dividing line between the art and science of navigation (based on clear definitions, the important concept of stating the underlying assumptions, and the rigorous applications thereof) and the laws of physics as they apply to navigation. I also wanted to show that the approximate methods used in celestial navigation, which are based on the original methods of Capt. Sumner and St. Hilair,
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