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Teaching and Learning Celestial Navigation Using Google Maps

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 November 2017

Tom Bensky
Tom Bensky*
Affiliation:
(California Polytechnic State University - Physics, San Luis Obispo, California, US)
*
(E-mail: tbensky@calpoly.edu)
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Abstract

We present a method of teaching the basics of celestial navigation, using the Javascript programming interface to Google Maps. This offers the teacher of celestial navigation many highly visual and flexible investigative and presentation options, all using the familiar Google Map system. In this paper, we discuss the programming route to Google Maps, and demonstrate an exercise of correcting the assumed position of a hypothetical lost ship, using sights of the Sun, suitable for classroom use. We also present an analysis of the relationship between the proximity of the assumed to the actual position of the ship, and the outcome of a sight-reduction procedure.

Keywords

Celestial navigationTeaching models
Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Navigation , Volume 71 , Issue 2 , March 2018 , pp. 281 - 298
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Institute of Navigation 2017 

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