Online Video Guide

Magic Lamp skipper Gene Grossman conducts the first lecture in this 2 hour program, and thoroughly covers the basic theory of Celestial Navigation, and how a sextant measures the sun?s altitude at local apparent noon, to provide both latitude and longitude of the vessel. Gene covers all the basic vocabulary involved, and shows how valuable the Nautical Almanac is as a locator of the Sun for every second of the year. He then goes on to explain how certain corrections must be made when using a sextant, and the basics of the celestial sphere. The second lecture is done by Paul Miller, CEO of the California Sailing School, and a former instructor at the United States Naval Academy. Paul demonstrates how to hold, use, adjust, and read a sextant. He then goes on to take the viewer through a step by step Sun shot at apparent noon, filling in each blank on the worksheet until the latitude and longitude is determined. Chapters in this program include: * Latitude & Longitude * Declination & GHA