Definitions and explanations of navigation and nautical astronomy offer a clear, practical reference for charting a course at sea.
This edition compiles essential concepts and terminology used by naval cadets, with straightforward explanations that support hands-on learning aboard ships like H.M.S. Britannia. It covers the basics of the terrestrial and celestial spheres, navigational instruments, time systems, and the methods sailors rely on to determine position and course.
Written to be simple and usable, the book presents core ideas in plain language, with notes on how measurements relate to real voyages. It frames navigation as a toolkit you can study, practice, and apply at the wheel, in the classroom, or on a ship’s bridge.
- Key terms and definitions for navigation, nautical astronomy, and celestial coordinates
- Fundamental concepts such as the nautical mile, rhumb lines, great circles, and meridians
- Coordinate systems for the Earth and sky, including latitude/longitude and right ascension/declination
- How charts, time, and instruments like the sextant are used in practice
Ideal for readers of maritime training, cadets, and anyone studying navigation and celestial navigation fundamentals.