Astronavigation (eBook)

A Method for Determining Exact Position by the Stars

K.A. Zischka (Autor)

eBook Download: PDF

2017 | 1st ed. 2018
XIX, 328 Seiten
Springer International Publishing (Verlag)
978-3-319-47994-1 (ISBN)

Infos

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 be evaluated on any inexpensive scientific calculator in the event of a catastrophic software or systems failure is a vital failsafe. It also serves as a living link to centuries of explorers from centuries past.

Beginning with the basics of positional astronomy, this guide moves on to the more complex math necessary to understand the ephemerides, tables showing the future positions of the stars and planets. These astronomical almanacs were the satellite navigation of their day. The objective of this book is twofold: to provide the reader with a concise, comprehensible manual on positional astronomy as it applies to astro-navigation and to furnish the concise algorithms for finding the position of the Sun and various navigational stars at any given instant.

In a world where too many mariners and aeronauts rely solely on technology and are vulnerable to solar flares, electrical issues, and the like, this knowledge can be a life-saving backup, not to mention a fascinating study in its own rights. Included is an exact mathematical way to determine your position in the air or on the sea far more quickly and accurately than by using the old celestial navigational method, without even needing to know or understand the underlying mathematics. There is even a section that teaches how to measure the azimuth of a star using an analog wrist watch so if a sextant gets damaged, locating position is still possible. This book offers mathematicians and adventurers a way to determine position when the skies go dark.

The U.S. Navy has recently realized that their electronic navigation systems are vulnerable to cyberattack, and as a result has instructed the Naval Academy to begin teaching celestial navigation again.

Kurt Anton Zischka received a Dr. of Science Degree at the Technische Hochschule in Darmstad and went on to teach at the University of Saskatchewan and at the University of Windsor, Ontario, where taught Applied Mathematics and Mathematical Physics. He held a Visiting Appointment as a Professor at the University in Karlsruhe, Germany, and also had an appointment at the D.I. of F.R. in Bombay (Mumbai), India. Later, he worked for two years at a University in West Africa. He is also an avid sailor.

Autor

Kurt Anton Zischka received a Dr. of Science Degree at the Technische Hochschule in Darmstad. He went on to teach at the University of Saskatchewan and at the University of Windsor, Ontario, in the subject of Applied Mathematics and Mathematical Physics. He held a Visiting Appointment as a Professor at the University in Karlsruhe, Germany, and also had an appointment at the D.I. of F.R. in Bombay (Mumbai), India. Later, he worked for two years at a University in West Africa. He is also an avid sailor.

Inhalt

Preface.- Chapter One -- Terrestrial Navigation.- Chapter Two -- Astronavigation.- Chapter Three -- Methods for Reducing Measured Altitude to Apparent Altitude.- Chapter Four -- Some of the Instruments and Mathematics used by the Navigator.- Part II.- Chapter Five -- Elements of Astronomy As Used In Navigation.- Chapter Six -- Qualitative Description -- The Relevant Astronomical Phenomena.- Chapter Seven-- Quantitative Treatise of Those Phenomena.- Chapter Eight -- Ephemerides.- Appendices.- Bibliography.

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 30.5.2017
• Zusatzinfo: XIX, 328 p. 101 illus., 8 illus. in color.
• Verlagsort: Cham
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Mathematik / Informatik ► Mathematik
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Physik / Astronomie ► Astronomie / Astrophysik
• Themenwelt: Technik ► Luft- / Raumfahrttechnik
• Schlagworte: Alternative to GPS in sailing • Ancient maritime navigation techniques • Applied navigational astronomy • Aviators navigating by night sky • Charting a course by the stars • Determining longitude and latitude by stars • How to navigate by constellations • Manual naval navigation • Navigation by night sky • Scientific calculator as GPS alternative
• ISBN-10: 3-319-47994-6 / 3319479946
• ISBN-13: 978-3-319-47994-1 / 9783319479941