Celestial Navigation in the GPS Age [Paperback]

John Karl (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2007

Celestial Navigation in the GPS Age by John Karl This revised and expanded edition of this popular CN book now introduces simple tabular sight reductions first, followed by calculator methods for those wishing to take full advantage of their flexibility. Of course it retains the same unprecedented clear and accurate explanation of CN mysteries, such as the role of the assumed position , and how positions and celestial LOPs can be plotted with no assumptions. The section on stars has been expanded, and star and planet identification and viewing have been added. It explains nine special sights, such as Polaris sights, meridian sights, and even sights without a sextant. Lunar distance sights are explained from the ground up, using only basic concepts, with no special formulas or tables. The book has a unique chapter on sextants and their properties, explaining the workings and effects of different horizon mirrors and telescopes, and their associated advantages and disadvantages. Related topics include: integrating CN with GPS for improving skill and safety; constructing plotting sheets; making superior running fixes; designing special LOPs for landfalls; and performing compass deviation checks at sea. Beginners will like the clear and authoritative explanations, arriving at a complete sight reduction in just 40 pages, accompanied by 72 exercises for plenty of practice and confidence building all in the most comprehensive CN book ever written. Experienced navigators will appreciate the comprehensive fresh treatment of all topics, many never seen elsewhere. SC, 2011, 310 pages.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Karl is a physicist, artist, pilot, writer, and a sailor. He learned celestial navigation 50 years ago and has been sailing for 60 years. He s taught celestial navigation workshops at the University of Wisconsin and aboard the 3-masted S/V Denis Sullivan. He s conducted marine research in the Great Lakes on the R/V Salmo and in the Gulf of California aboard the R/V Melville. Karl has sailed the Pacific Ocean, East Coast, Great Lakes, Florida Keys, and the Bahamas.

Product Details

• Paperback: 310 pages
• Publisher: Paradise Cay Publications; Revised and Expanded edition (April 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0939837757
• ISBN-13: 978-0939837755
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #92,704 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An absolute "must-have" for offshore navigators and a readily accessible self-teaching tool., November 3, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Celestial Navigation in the GPS Age (Paperback)

Written by physicist, pilot, sailor, and fifty-year veteran of celestial navigation John Karl, Celestial Navigation in the GPS Age is a practical guide to the skill and science of celestial navigation for offshore navigators. Compact without being abridged, Celestial Navigation in the GPS Age is tailor-written for the modern era of computers, calculators, and online resources. Though the traditional methods of "working a sight" is covered, the meat of Celestial Navigation in the GPS Age carefully instructs the reader in the use of a simple and inexpensive scientific calculator. From the basics of coordinates, to sun sight reductions and lunar distance sights, to sextant adjustments and altitude corrections, and an exhaustive wealth of appendices, Celestial Navigation in the GPS Age is an absolute "must-have" for offshore navigators and a readily accessible self-teaching tool.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Celestial navigation in the gps age, January 26, 2008

By 

Alan Schultz (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Celestial Navigation in the GPS Age (Paperback)

I've read through,looked at several books on celestial navigation, a subject that has captured my interest. Mr. Karl's book offers about the clearest explaination of "the navigational triangle" that I have come on. Historical comment on the sad fate of Capt. Sumner, of Sumner line navigation is also interesting. A small reproduction of the painting, Capt. Sumner Discovers the Celestial Line of Position catches the viewers eye too.

Most interesting and encourageing to me was the following. In the section on the navigational triangle, the author made a statement that seemed wrong. Curious about this, I e-mailed the author, c/o his publisher, Paradise Cay Publications of Arcata California and Celestaire of Wichita, Kansas jointly, the people at Paradise Cay sent my inquire on to Mr. Karl, who was kind enough to respond, in effect, turning on the light in a poorly lit room.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Top Notch, May 14, 2009

By 

Seth Smith (Brandon, MS USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Celestial Navigation in the GPS Age (Paperback)

I cannot possibly say enough good things about this book. It is so well authored, so well written, and so thorough that anyone interested in CelNav would be completely amiss not to buy this book. Because I spend so much time studying the subject, I came to a point where I began studying the algorithms, celestial mechanics, and mathematical theory behind CelNav and wanted to move into deeper, more intensive areas of the subject with the intention of eventually being able to calculate the very orbits that we derive our almanac data from....however, I was unable to break into this seemingly unattainable realm because of the overwhelming circular nature of the texts and dicussions that tend to predominate regarding the subject. THIS BOOK was the key that unlocked those areas for me. You will find yourself amazed at how much "meat" each and every line of this book contains, it's as though each sentence offers new and equally important light to the study of CelNav. You will, as I did, I'm quite sure, read and re-read this book with the result that your understanding of CelNav will be deepened a hundred-fold. If the price of books were determined by the significance of their contents, this one would cost millions.