Next message: Frank Reed: "Re: Astronomy and Celestial Navigation"
Guy asked:
> I wonder how many of the list participant are also into astronomy? In addition
> was it astronomy that got you interested
> in Cel Nav or was it Cel nav that got you interested in astronomy?
Sailing and a desire for the tradition (the "old ways", with systems that
don't fail) finally lead me to cel nav (something I had meant to do for a
decade) after a seminar by Ken Gebhart at Strictly Sail in Chicago a bit
over two years ago.
I started my quest after Ken's seminar with astronomy devices and sites,
working on the premise I could not observe it if I could not find it.
Astronomy was/is a fascinating pursuit. After about 5 months of astronomy I
made the leap to cel nav, only to be confronted with RA vs. GHA etc. A it
of confusion for a beginner to both.
I started cel nav with a cardboard sextant and 229 to see if I could do it.
As previously noted, it has become much more than that.
In the end, time permitting, astronomy is now on my "plan to do" list. It
gives me a good reasons to step away from the pixels on my "square-headed
girlfriend and step outdoors on a daily basis for things beyond skiing,
sailing, and tennis.
Bill
