Subject
|
Broad detail to be covered
|
| 1. The earth and the celestial sphere |
1. Definition of observer’s zenith and position of a
heavenly body in terms of latitude, longitude,GHA and declination
2. Right angle relationships, latitude and co-lat, declination and polar
distance Tabulation of declination in nautical almanac
3. Relationship between GHA, longitude and LHA Tabulation of GHA in
nautical almanac Rate of increase of hour angle with time |
| 2. The PZX Triangle |
1. The tabulated components of the triangle, LHA, co-lat
and polar distance
2. The calculable components, zenith distance and azimuth
3. Relationship between zenith distance and altitude
4. Introduction to the tabular method of solution in the Air Navigation
Tables and the basic sight form
5. The use of calculators for the solution to the PZX triangle |
| 3. The sextant |
1. Practical guide to the use and care of a sextant at
sea
2. Conversion of sextant altitude to true altitude Application of dip,
index error and refraction
3. Correction of side error, perpendicularity, index error and
collimation error |
| 4. Measurement of time |
1. Definition of, and relationship, between GMT, LMT,
standard time and zone time
2. Rating of chronometers and watches |
| 5. Meridian altitudes |
1. Forecasting of time of meridian altitude
2. Reduction of meridian altitude sights |
| 6. Sun sights |
1. Reduction and plotting of sun sights using Air
Navigation Tables and/or calculator
2. The plotting of a sun-run-meridian altitude |
| 7. Planet sights |
1. Identification of planets from LHA and
declination
2. Reduction of planet sights using Air Navigation Tables and/or
calculator (twilight sights only) |
| 8. Starsight planning |
1. Calculations of times of planning sunrise, sunset,
civil and nautical twilights
2. Star identification using Air Navigation Tables and/or calculator |
| 9. Starsights |
1. Reduction of star sights using Air Navigation Tables
and/or calculator (seven selected stars only)
2. Plotting of star sights corrections to position for precession and
nutation |
| 10. The pole star |
1. Determination of latitude from sights of Polaris |
| 11. Moon sights |
1. Special corrections applicable only to the moon |
| 12. Compass checking |
1. Use of amplitude and azimuth tables and/or calculator |
| 13. Satellite navigation systems |
1. Principles and limitations |
| 14. Great circle sailing |
1. Comparison of rhumb lines and great circles
2. Vertices and composite tracks
3. The computation of a series of rhumb lines approximating to a great
circle by use of gnomonic and Mercator projections |
| 15. Meteorology |
1. General pressure distribution and prevailing winds over
the oceans of the world
2. Tropical revolving storms, seasonal occurrence and forecasting by
observation |
| 16. Passage planning |
1. Publications available to assist with planning of long
passages (routeing charts and Ocean Passages for the World) |