The Basic Celestial Navigation course is designed to familiarize the student with the tools and mechanics of navigation using the sun and stars.  The text used is the STARPATH CELESTIAL NAVIGATION home study text.  In addition to the celestial textbook, emphasis will be on the sextant, Nautical Almanac, Pub 249, and the use of the StarPilot86 calculator.  The student will be able to adjust his/her sextant, do observations of the Sun and any other celestial body,  reduce those observations to Lines of Position on a Universal Plotting Sheet.  The Noon  sight and the Polaris (North Star) sight for obtaining Latitude will also be covered.  All Sight Reductions will be done using the 249 Tables and the Calculator.  Star sight preparation and sight reduction will be covered as well. Sessions for practice at the beach will be available to observe the Sun (daytime) and the Stars (early morning or evening). 

 

For those interested in obtaining the ASA 107 Celestial Navigation Level, the basic Celestial Navigation coarse is extended for two additional days plus the Final ASA Exam. These additional days will cover the rude Star Finder in more detail, the Planets, Moon observations and Reductions will be covered as well as Magnetic Compass Deviation determined from the celestial bodies.