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Subject: Re: Calculating accurate apparent-angles between stars
From: William Allen (allen@XXX.XXX)
Date: Tue Jan 07 2003 - 20:26:45 EST
Hello guys,
I have been silently following the lunar discussion with fascination for the
last year or so. You might say I am on the lunar-tic fringe.
I agree with George and his assessment of our needs for some detail behind
Bruce's tables (which I own and have used, but like many, I wish I knew the
rationale for what I am doing).
Also, George, I really appreciate the write-ups you did explaining lunars.
Am I correct that there are only 4 parts or have I missed number 5? I am not
trying to rush you, because what you have done so far is absolutely amazing.
Also, with all the discussion that has been going on, I don't know if you
had given any thought to going back through these and making any additions
or corrections that might apply. I can understand, however, if you don't
have the time to do this. I have tried to make modifications as the emails
came out, but I'm not sure I got everything right.
On your suggestion, I bought the Text-Book on Sperical Astronomy by W.M.
Smart, which has been extremely helpful. I have also tried to find the
Cotter book on the history of navigation, but I haven't been able to locate
one. Does anyone on the list have any ideas where this might be found? I
have been searching the web pretty diligently.
Thanks again to all for their fascinating comments and hard work.
Regards,
Bill Allen
M/V ELVICA
(Moored in Santa Barbara, CA)
-----Original Message-----
From: Navigation Mailing List
[mailto:NAVIGATION-L@XXX.XXX]On Behalf Of George Huxtable
Sent: Tuesday, January 07, 2003 4:30 PM
To: NAVIGATION-L@XXX.XXX
Subject: Re: Calculating accurate apparent-angles between stars
Fred Hebard asked, about Bruce Stark's Lunar Tables-
>George
>
>I wonder whether you and Bruce could share your correspondence on his
>method with the group.
Reply from George-
Well, our private correspondence covered those very questions that Bruce
has just elucidated to the list, so I doubt it would add much more than he
has just done.
If there is more to add, I think it's up to Bruce to decide to provide it,
or not. Many subscribers to this list, and owners of Bruce's tables, would
value a full account of the thinking that went into their clever
construction. We modern lunartics differ, I suggest, from old-time
mariners: in general they would have been content with any tool that gave
the right answers, whether or not they understood how it worked. I would
like to think that most of us are driven by a greater degree of
intellectual curiosity, and feel that we need to know what's going on.
I hope Bruce can be persuaded to write an appendix to his lunar tables
which explains their internal working. Will he take the hint? It's up to
him.
George Huxtable.
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