A SIMPLIFIED SIGHT REDUCTION METHOD FOR CELESTIAL NAVIGATION

John D. Woodworth

Peer Reviewed

Abstract: This paper presents a simplified sight reduction method (ABHAV) which is easy to use and accurate to less than 1 arcmin in altitude without interpolation, limited only by the accuracy of the input data. It is intended to be used in place of the Modified Ageton method or the Nautical Almanac Sight Reduction (NASR) method which is published in the Nautical Almanac, both of which use comparable input data accuracy. The ABHAV method is more accurate than the Modified Ageton method and much more user-friendly than the NASR method. The accuracy of the Modified Ageton method is limited when the value of K (an interim value used in the solution) approaches 90 deg. Under these conditions, the accuracy is reduced by up to several arcmin of altitude, depending upon the actual data involved. The ABHAV method can also be used for great circle sailing problems.
Published in: NAVIGATION: Journal of the Institute of Navigation, Volume 39, Number 4
Pages: 463 - 476
Cite this article: Woodworth, John D., "A SIMPLIFIED SIGHT REDUCTION METHOD FOR CELESTIAL NAVIGATION", NAVIGATION: Journal of The Institute of Navigation, Vol. 39, No. 4, Winter 1992-1993, pp. 463-476.
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