Module:

Topic 3:

Principles of Navigation
Celestial Navigation

MA0539

Objectives:
1. Introduction to Celestial Navigation
2. Understand the concept of celestial sphere and equinoctial system of
coordinates
Introduction
When out of sight of land the navigator can use the positions of the sun, planets and stars
to determine his position. If he is to understand what he is doing, he must at least have an
elementary knowledge of astronomy. He must understand the relative movements of the
sun, planets and stars and he must understand the tabulated information that he obtains
from the almanacs and uses it in the calculation of his position.
The science of celestial navigation has developed with the development of astronomy and
mathematics. In determining position at sea by astronomical observations, the navigator
is making use of methods developed largely by astronomers and mathematicians who had
little association with seafaring or practical navigation. The practice of ocean navigation
is a very good example of the practical application of theoretical concepts.
The relative movements of the celestial bodies can be accurately predicted and, when a
navigator out of sight of land determines his position he is simply measuring the
difference between his position and the predicted positions of the bodies he observes. To
calculate his position, he needs to actually measure this difference with a sextant, know
the time that he made the observation and use this time to enter the nautical almanac to
obtain the position of the body he has observed. He then uses mathematical tables and
calculators to do the calculations.
Understanding the concept of the celestial sphere also known as the "celestial concave"
helps considerably in simplifying the subject. The observer and the earth are imagined to
be at the centre of a sphere of infinite radius and the sun, moon, planets and stars are
imagined to move across the inside surface of the sphere, their movements being relative
to a stationary earth; ie their relative motion.
It is necessary to have the background knowledge so that you will know the theory and
principles of taking sights (sextant altitudes of celestial bodies) at sea in order to
determine the ship's position.
True motion
The true motion of a celestial body is its own motion when following its path or orbit
around the central body; i.e. the actual movement of a planet around the sun. When
considering only the solar system, the true motion of the sun is nil because, relative to the
other bodies in the solar system, it is stationary.
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Module:
Topic 3:

Principles of Navigation
Celestial Navigation

MA0539

Apparent Motion

The apparent motion of a body is the motion that appears to an observer on the earth and
it is due to the combined effects of the movement of the earth and the movement of the
body.
Thus the sun appears to rise in the east and set in the west in the course of a day because
of the rotation of the earth alone. The revolution or the motion of the earth in its orbit
causes the sun to appear to move along its own orbit against the background of the stars
and complete one revolution in one year. Such an orbit is called the apparent path of the
sun and is known as the ecliptic. The truth, of course is that the sun is the centre of the
system and what we see as the movement of the sun and other heavenly bodies is only
apparent. The direction of apparent motion is westwards.
Celestial sphere
To an observer on the earth's surface, the sun and all other heavenly bodies, irrespective
of their actual distances, appear to be moving along the inner surface of a very large
sphere having an immense radius, with the earth at its centre. This sphere is known as the
celestial sphere, or celestial concave. It can be defined as an imaginary sphere of infinite
radius having the earth at its centre and upon which all celestial bodies appear projected,
irrespective of their actual distance from earth. Thus, for navigational purposes, all
celestial bodies are considered to have the same distance from earth.

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Module:
Topic 3:

Principles of Navigation
Celestial Navigation

MA0539

Celestial Poles
If the earth's axes were extended to meet the celestial concave, the two points P and P 1,
would be the celestial poles. That which is nearer the observer is the elevated pole and
the other is the depressed pole.
Equinoctial or Celestial Equator
It is a great circle on the celestial concave formed by extending the plane of the equator
to the celestial concave.
Celestial Meridians
These are great circles which join the two celestial poles.
Ecliptic
The ecliptic, or the sun's apparent path, is a great circle on the celestial sphere and lies in
the same plane as that of the earth's orbit, which is an ellipse. The radius of the celestial
concave being infinite, it appears to us that the sun follows a circular path amongst the
heavenly bodies. The ecliptic cuts the equinoctial at two points, the equinoctial points
known as the vernal (or spring) and the autumnal equinoxes.
Obliquity of Ecliptic
This is the angle between the plane of the ecliptic and the plane of the equinoctial and
equals the sun's maximum declination of 23.
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Module:
Topic 3:

Principles of Navigation
Celestial Navigation

MA0539

Apparent Motion of the Sun and the Seasons

As we are not directly aware of the earth's motion around the sun, it appears to us that the
earth is stationary and that the sun describes an ellipse around the earth.

First Point of Aries

This is the point where the ecliptic cuts the equinoctial on March 21st when the sun
changes its declination from south to north. It was so named because the point was first
noted to be in the constellation of Aries.

The northern hemisphere begins when the apparent Sun in its northerly path along the
ecliptic crosses the equinoctial. This occurs on March 20, and is known as the vernal
equinox and is also referred to as the first point of Aries.
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Module:
Topic 3:

Principles of Navigation
Celestial Navigation

MA0539

Summer begins when the apparent Sun reaches its most northerly point on June 21 at the
summer solstice. Summer ends when the apparent Sun, moving south, cross the
equinoctial on September 22 at the fall equinox. This point is also referred to as the first
point of Libra.
The northern hemisphere winter begins when the apparent Sun attains its most southerly
point on the ecliptic on December 21 at the winter solstice.

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Module:
Topic 3:

Principles of Navigation
Celestial Navigation

MA0539

Rotation on its axis Daylight and Darkness

The earth rotates around its axis once in one day. The rotation causes the observer to
experience daylight and darkness. The distribution of sunlight on the earth is not the
same at all latitudes. It will depend not only on latitude but also on the declination of the
sun. An observer at the equator will experience 12 hours of sunlight and 12 hours of
darkness every day.
An observer at 66.5 degrees North or South will experience sunlight, which could be 24
hours (when at 66.5 degrees North and declination 23.5 degrees same name) and another
time darkness for 24 hours (latitude 66.5 degrees North with declination 23.5 degrees
opposite name).
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Module:
Topic 3:

Principles of Navigation
Celestial Navigation

MA0539

Daylight and darkness will depend on the declination of the sun, in this case as the
latitude of the observer is known.

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