I asked in prior thread if practicing cel nav in Colorado at 1 mile above sea level would impact sun sight practice with artificial horizon. Answer: no.
So, now that I'm well into sun sight practice I have a two questions and a comment:
First, I'm using a newly purchased Davis plastic
sextant and Davis artificial horizon. I can't complain about the
sextant, but the Davis artificial horizon leaves a lot to be desired. Is it true I can replace the art. hor. by simply using a plate full of some sort of
oil? If not, what is the purpose of the 45 degreed angled glass with the Davis art. hor.? I'm just wondering if the glass has something to do with things....outside being a
wind shield...which doesn't
work with
water. I'm a degreed
engineer so I'm trying to rationalize angles.
Second, I'm finding cel nav and awesome
learning experience but perplexing. The book I'm using to learn always assumes an approximated Long and Lat. Is that the only way to do it? What if I don't know my Long and Lat? As in I was sucked to sea by a beautiful Mermaid (I'm thinking Jessica Alba) from Colorado to some point in the Pacific. In other words, the gorgeous woman put me somewhere on the earth without reference; AKA an argument with the wife. (Which I'll note, if you apply the same math as required for cel. nav. apparently your wife is a beautiful, but argumentative mermaid. If you are both the same (sex for those of you drinking), you subtract some number from some other number, if you are opposite you add two numbers. Or, if you can't tell, pick one or the other.) Oh geez, I'm so dizzy.
Comment:
I went out to turn the
grill on for dinner. Cel nav has me so confused I didn't know to turn the
grill knob clock wise or counter clock wise. Apparently, the knob only goes one way..But would go one way clockwise on the northern hemisphere, else it goes counter clockwise.
Last Question:
Is there an app that plots the curves/LOP/GP/Physical Lat-Long on the surface of the earth as an cel. nav.
learning tool? I hate to use the word 'app' as I'm a 50 year old mechanical/software
engineer. In translation, does a tool
software or physical exist? If not, I'm thinking I'll build one and charge a million per use. Small demand, big effort equals million
price;-)
Bernie