Course Objectives :

• present the basics on Geodesy
• display the earth’s shape and dimensions, focusing on the navigational use of these elements
• exhibit the celestial sphere
• describe our solar system
• display the motions of the navigational planets and stars
• demonstrate the utilization of the above data in acquiring a position line
• Students gain knowledge about the principles of various techniques.
• To facilitate a thorough understanding of the Celestial Navigation and its application/use at different places in nautical studies.

Course Outcomes :

After completion of the course students are expected to be able to:

• comprehend the basic Geodesy issues of navigational interest
• realize the correspondence between the coordinates on the celestial sphere and on earth
• explain the apparent motion of the celestial sphere
• acquire position lines on the surface of the earth using observations of celestial bodies
• compute the compass’s error using observations of celestial bodies
• calculate the difference between rhumb line and great circle sailing
• Students should understand the Celestial Navigation and apply it properly.
• To understand the applications of fundamentals of Celestial Navigation in nautical science.

Course Syllabus :

Course content

• Rhumb line and great circle sailing
• Current as a parameter in course setting
• Universe
• Solar system
• The celestial sphere
• The equator coordinate system
• Hour Angle
• Daily motion and local coordinate system
• Planets, moon
• Nautical almanac
• Sextant
• Position fixing with celestial observations
• Compass error with celestial observations

Reference Books:

1. N. , The American Practical Navigator, Paradise Cay Publications
2. H., GPS satellite navigation, Rauff and Soerenson
3. Capt. T. K. Joseph - Principle Of Navigation .
4. Capt. H. Subramaniam - Practical Navigation .

Session Plan :

Session 1

Detailed Instruction about the Syllabus, Curriculum.

Shape Of The Earth, Poles, Equator, Meridians, Parallel of Lat, Axis,

Session 2

Shape Of The Earth, Geocentri Latitude, Geographic Latitude, Position of Observer

Session 3

Great Circle, Small Circle. Meridians, Prime Meridians, Equator

Session 4

Parallel Of Latitude, Longitude, Latitude, D'Lat, D'Long,M'lat

Session 5

Variation, Deviation, Compass Error, Rhumb line, Great Circle track.

Session 6

Departure, Parallel sailing, Rhumb line sailing, Plane sailing

Session 7

Examples , Numericals

Session 8

DR, EP, FIX, COURSE, WIND, CURRENT - Leeway, Set, Drift, Wind is From, Current is Towards

Session 9

DR, EP, FIX, COURSE, WIND, CURRENT - Leeway, Set, Drift, Wind is From, Current is Towards

Session 10

Day's Work Numerical

Session 11

Day's Work Numerical

Session 12

Day's Work Numerical

Session 13

Universe - Celestial Bodies, Light year, Star Absolute Magnitude, Apparent Magnitude

Session 14

The Celestial Sphere - Cel Poles, Equinoctial, Cel Meridians, Declination Circles, Ecliptic-The sun's Orbit(Projected/Imaginary One), Zenith , Nadir

Session 15

Declination, Zenith, Nadir, 1st point of obsrever, 1st point of libra,GHA, LHA, SHA,RA, Posn of a cel body, GP, GMT, LMT, LIT.

Session 16

Obliquity of the Ecliptic, Vertical circles, Prime vertical, Principal vertical,Rational Horizon, True Altitude, Zenith Distance, Azimuth, Amplitude

Session 17

NUMERICAL- D'LAT, D'LONG, COMP. ERR., COMP. CO. - TRUE CO, GHA, LHA,SHA, GMT, LMT, LIT,M'LAT, DEP. LAT- ARR LAT.

Session 18

Solar System - Sun, Plannets, Inferior-superior Kepler's Laws, Aphelion, Perihelion, Perigee, Apogee, Apolune, Perilune, Vernal Equinox, Autumnal Equinox,

Session 19

NUMERICAL- D'LAT, D'LONG, COMP. ERR., COMP. CO. - TRUE CO, GHA, LHA,SHA, GMT, LMT, LIT,M'LAT, DEP. LAT- ARR LAT.

Session 20

NUMERICAL- D'LAT, D'LONG, COMP. ERR., COMP. CO. - TRUE CO, GHA, LHA,SHA, GMT, LMT, LIT,M'LAT, DEP. LAT- ARR LAT.

Session 21

Revision/ Practice / Preparation for Internal

Session 22

NUMERICAL- D'LAT, D'LONG, COMP. ERR., COMP. CO. - TRUE CO, GHA, LHA,SHA, GMT, LMT, LIT,M'LAT, DEP. LAT- ARR LAT, Inferior Meridian.

Session 23

Extra Revision / Doubt clearance

Session 24

NUMERICAL- D'LAT, D'LONG, COMP. ERR., COMP. CO. - TRUE CO, GHA, LHA,SHA, GMT, LMT, LIT,M'LAT, DEP. LAT- ARR LAT, Inferior Meridian.

Session 25

NUMERICAL- D'LAT, D'LONG, COMP. ERR., COMP. CO. - TRUE CO, GHA, LHA,SHA, GMT, LMT, LIT,M'LAT, DEP. LAT- ARR LAT, Inferior Meridian.

Session 26

Revision / Doubt clearance /  Preparation for Internal

Session 27

Exam paper discussed

Session 28

Aphelion, Perihelion, Perigee, Apogee, Apolune, Perilune, Vernal Equinox, Autumnal Equinox, Summer Solstice, Winter Solstice, Celestial Sphere, GP, Azimuth, Amplitude, Altitude, Declination, GHA. Introdoctory class of ECDIS and Bridge Simulator

Session 29

Horizon System, RH, Zenith Distance, Bearing, Altitude, Azimuth, Practical Class of ECDIS and Bridge Simulator

Session 30

Horizon System, RH, Zenith Distance,Course, Bearing, Altitude, Azimuth

Session 31

Zenith Distance, Altitude, Azimuth, Amplitude

Session 32

Planet Names, Distances, Characteristics, Rotation Period, Revolution Period, etc. Moon- Siderial Period, Synodic Period, Nodes, Phases of Moon, Daily retardation of moon, Solar Eclipse, Lunar Eclipse, Occultation,

Session 33

Planet Names, Distances, Characteristics, Rotation Period, Revolution Period, etc. Moon- Siderial Period, Synodic Period, Nodes, Phases of Moon, Daily retardation of moon, Solar Eclipse, Lunar Eclipse, Occultation,

Session 34

Phases of Moon, Daily retardation of moon, Solar Eclipse, Lunar Eclipse, Occultation,  Practical Class of ECDIS and Bridge Simulator

Session 35

Phases of Moon, Daily retardation of moon, Solar Eclipse, Lunar Eclipse, Occultation,Doubt Clearance

Session 36

Phases of Moon, Daily retardation of moon, Solar Eclipse, Lunar Eclipse, Occultation,Doubt Clearance

Session 37

Phases of Moon, Daily retardation of moon, Solar Eclipse, Lunar Eclipse, Occultation,  Practical Class of ECDIS and Bridge Simulator

Session 38

Azimuth Numerical, Gyro Error, Compass Error

Session 39

Azimuth Numerical, Gyro Error, Compass Error

Session 40

Azimuth Numerical, Gyro Error, Compass Error

Session 41

Altitude Numerical

Session 42

Altitude Numerical,  Practical Class of ECDIS and Bridge Simulator

Session 43

Altitude Numerical(Meridian Altitude)

Session 44

Altitude Numerical(Meridian Altitude)

Session 45

Great Circle Numerical

Session 46

Great Circle Numerical

Session 47

Amplitude And Azimuth Numerical

Session 48

Revision / Doubt Clearance

Session 49

Revision / Doubt Clearance

Session 50

Revision / Doubt Clearance