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Top 10 Celestial Navigation Books
Humans along the course of time have found out ways to locate and navigate sun, moon and stars so that sailors can find a way across the planet’s oceans and return their way back home too.
Celestial navigation deals with observing the positions of the heavenly bodies – the sun, moon, stars and planets and calculating their exact positions.
Students need the right guidance and resources to understand the field of celestial navigation.
We have given a list of the best books that have all the required information regarding celestial navigation that will make each one of you an expert.
1. Celestial Navigation: A Complete Home Study Course
The first reference book on our list is called the celestial navigation; a complete home study course is written by David Burch, whose career was spent writing on instructing sailors and mariners in the art and science of navigation.
This book has been used for more than 30 years and is in its second edition; which has been improved both graphically and contextually.
As the title suggests this book is a home study course that has all the information regarding factors of ocean navigation, how to find the position of the sea, the sights of the sun, moon, planets, stars and other routines concerned in this field.
You need not have previous navigation knowledge to read this book as it covers everything from the basics to complexity.
You may find a detailed glossary, plotting sheets, practice problems, advanced calculations and practice sight reduction in this book.
- Burch, David (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 296 Pages - 03/11/2015 (Publication Date) - Starpath Publications (Publisher)
2. Celestial Navigation: A Practical Guide to Knowing Where You Are
When electronics seems to fail, this celestial navigation book comes to the rescue with a unique approach and presents both the traditional and modern knowledge. Written by David Berson, who has captained well known sailing ships.
Every month he challenges readers in a column of celestial navigation problems in the form of a seafaring story.
With clear explanations and examples, students are made confident to launch their own vessel in the ocean voyage with confidence. Readers of the new generation are attracted to this book and are considered an essential part of sailors.
Anyone that reads this book is said to catch the contagious enthusiasm of the writer.
- Hardcover Book
- Berson, David (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 160 Pages - 11/20/2018 (Publication Date) - Seahorse (Publisher)
3. Celestial Navigation: Learn How to Master One of the Oldest Mariner’s Arts
This is one of the oldest books of mariners arts, the writer Tom Cunliffe through this book shows us how to master the art. This book is recommended for all those sailors who want to learn how to plot their position.
This is a perfect guide to the wonders of cosmos, mastering the navigation to the sun, moon, stars and planets through texts, charts, diagrams, photographs, video tutorials and calculation sheets.
You can master the art in easy stages. It is a very clear and concise book that walks you through celestial navigation, the author put together a collection of information you need to know in this field. You will be pleased to read this book.
- Cunliffe, Tom (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 80 Pages - 09/13/2010 (Publication Date) - Fernhurst Books (Publisher)
4. Celestial Navigation in a Nutshell (Seafarer Books)
Hewitt Schlereth, an accomplished sailor is the author of Celestial Navigation in a Nutshell.
Through this book, he has given an easy guide that explains everything about navigation, how you can go about it, with a handheld sextant, a plotting sheet and a watch, which can keep you informed about any stretch of sea.
The guide begins with a sextant, moving on to a reference, then comparing them and produce the results in the form of a chart. this book gives a demonstration on how to take sights by the moon, sun, planets and stars simultaneously briefing about the advantages and disadvantages of the methods given, situational illustrations, and self-teaching guides.
This book contains all the information needed to become an expert celestial navigator.
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Schlereth, Hewitt (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 128 Pages - 07/15/2000 (Publication Date) - Sheridan House (Publisher)
5. Celestial Navigation: Using the Sight Reduction Tables Pub. No. 249
This reference book by Dominique Prinet is a manual for celestial navigation. This writer has been teaching about celestial navigation since the year 2000.
The material presented in this book teaches you how to determine the position of the sun, moon, star and planets, with fundamental and definitions, illustrations, review exercises that cover all the chapters and many other concepts are explained here. This is one of the books with the best steps and concepts of plotting the lines of position.
Provisions of sight reduction work forms and relevant Nautical Almanac tables are also given. Students will receive a sufficient grounding in these subjects. This book only urges students to bring with themselves motivation and the willingness to excel in this subject.
- Prinet, Dominique F (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 304 Pages - 07/18/2014 (Publication Date) - FriesenPress (Publisher)
6. Practical Celestial Navigation (Maritime)
This reference book is both a textbook and a workbook that was developed for Mystic Seaport courses. Written by Susan Howell this book is in its second edition that has step by step formats, self-instruction texts, worked examples, relevant diagrams and practical problems regarding celestial navigation.
This book is suitable for beginners and for people who want to get back into practice. The book uses the sun, moon and stars to go into the details of celestial navigation and makes reading and learning an interesting process.
With a balance in theory and practices, this book is a must-read for all in this field. The Practical Sailor has been all praise for this book and has called it ‘ a first-class piece of work’.
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Howell, Susan Peterson (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 261 Pages - 12/04/1997 (Publication Date) - Mystic Seaport Museum Inc (Publisher)
7. Celestial and General Navigation Simplified: An All-in-One Guide to the Easiest, Most Complete Backup Method for GPS
This reference book by Greg Boyle is a complete guide to the easiest backup method of GPS. This book is inclusive of everything from terms, basic theory, sextant and celestial data needed to know the secondary backup method. Any person that has basic maths skills can use this method.
This book also contains plotting with checklists to calculate the positions of sun, moon, planets and stars. Written mainly to attract readers who do not have a background in this field and contains all the information required. You can read this book in a short amount of time.
- Boyle, Greg (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 102 Pages - 11/20/2015 (Publication Date) - CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (Publisher)
8. Starpath Celestial Navigation Work Forms: For All Sights and Tables, with Complete Instructions and Examples
Written by David Burch, this reference book has detailed instructions of forms supported by numerical examples, whose forms are basically of sight reduction and how to obtain it through various methods.
Some of the forms are – form 104- using pub 249 for sight reduction of all bodies( vol. 2&3), form 111- using pub 249 for sight reduction9 vol 1) and others. Each of the forms has been discussed in details covering all their aspects.
These forms have been used by more than ten thousand navigators and will guide readers through the process of sight reduction in celestial navigation with the provisions of sight reduction tables and nautical almanac.
- Burch, David (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 86 Pages - 10/04/2018 (Publication Date) - Starpath Publications (Publisher)
9. Simple Celestial: Navigation by the Heavens Made Easy
Written by CDR Chris Kreitlien, who has advanced experience in the navigation of ships and aircraft. In this book he has given an instruction manual regarding the process of observing and deriving a position of the sun, moon, planets and stars, even alternate methods are given.
This book mainly concentrates on the practical aspects related to celestial navigation. The manual is presented in a simple style for all readers to understand and practice the information provided in the book. Navigation can be made easy by following this book.
- Kreitlein, CDR Chris (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 136 Pages - 03/21/2014 (Publication Date) - CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (Publisher)
10. 100 Problems in Celestial Navigation, 2nd ed.
This reference book written by Leonard Gray, is in its second edition that gives a traditional view of navigation with the help of sextant and nautical almanac.
As the name says, the book contains 100 problems related to celestial navigation. These problems are accompanied by answers and explanations through nautical almanac pages and necessary sight reduction tables.
Through this book, readers are given an opportunity to know about celestial navigation problems that take place at sea without physically experiencing them. Master your navigation skills by completing the exercises given in this book.
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Leonard Gray (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 168 Pages - 01/01/2010 (Publication Date) - Paradise Cay Publications (Publisher)
We have personally made this list so that students and professionals can benefit from this and make the most out of the information provided in these books. Hoping that this list has narrowed down your choices of celestial navigation books.
You may also like to read – 12 Sailing Books For Beginners
Top 7 Books On Warehouse Management
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Disclaimer :
The information on this website is for general purposes only. While efforts are made to ensure accuracy, we make no warranties of any kind regarding completeness, reliability, or suitability. Any reliance you place on such information is at your own risk. We are not liable for any loss or damage arising from the use of this website.
Disclaimer :
The information on this website is for general purposes only. While efforts are made to ensure accuracy, we make no warranties of any kind regarding completeness, reliability, or suitability. Any reliance you place on such information is at your own risk. We are not liable for any loss or damage arising from the use of this website.
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About Author
Journalist by training, and an academic in aspiration, Shamseer Mambra currently works as a freelance journalist, after spending three years in the newsrooms of some of the reputed media houses in India. When not at work, he likes to read, click photographs and go for a ride on his bike.
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