CELESTIAL FIX-INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL?

Celestial navigation is still in wide use, as indicated by sales of the Nautical and Air Almanacs. One of the questions that has intrigued celestial navigators has been the identification of the most probable position when more than two lines of position are available but do not have a common intersection. If the total spread of azimuth is less than 180 deg and the error of each line of position is assumed to be equal in magnitude and the same sign, positive or negative, the fix is external to the triangle, in contrast to the usual internal fix determined by assuming minimum error equal in magnitude alone. An analysis of 100 fixes from observations made from known positions by candidates for the N rating of the U.S. Power Squadrons indicates a definite superiority of the internal fix.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/2083741
• Corporate Authors:

  Institute of Navigation

  815 14th Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20005
• Authors:
  • Moody, A B
• Publication Date: 1972-12

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 338-343
• Serial:
  • Navigation: journal of the Institute of Navigation
  • Volume: 19
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: Institute of Navigation
  • ISSN: 0028-1522
  • Serial URL: http://www.ion.org/newsletter/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Celestial navigation; Error analysis; Navigation processes; Navigational aids; Position fixing
• Old TRIS Terms: Navigation procedures; Position finding
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00044411
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Institute of Navigation
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 11 1973 12:00AM