Associate Prof.

PhD
TRAIAN ATANASIU

CELESTIAL
NAVIGATION
t.atanasiu@yahoo.com
 COURSE OBJECTIVE

Acquiring theoretical knowledge and practical

skills necessary:

❖ to perform the specific computations designed to accurately

determine the fix of the vessel using celestial sights

❖ to identify some of the main stars used in celestial navigation

❖ to check the magnetic compass and gyro compass

corrections using astronomical methods.

❖ to use the sextant for celestial sights.

Knowlege about:
❖ solar system and its component elements
❖ celestial sphere and spherical coordinates
❖ notions of time and its measurement on board
❖ nautical publications used in celestial navigation
❖ astronomical computation forms
❖ use of sextant on board for celestial sights
❖ stars identification methods
❖ theoretical methods and practical exercises for
determining the astronomical position of the ship
❖ magnetic and gyro compasses corrections.
 Course 1

SOLAR SYSTEM.
CELESTIAL SPHERE AND
ITS COMPONENT
ELEMENTS
 Course structure

1.1. SOLAR SYSTEM – DEFINITION AND STRUCTURE

1.2. CELESTIAL SPHERE AND ITS COMPONENT

ELEMENTS.
 Astronomy - science that encompasses the study
of all extraterrestrial objects and phenomena.

(Encyclopedia Britannica)

In celestial navigation spherical astronomy is used

Spherical astronomy:
❖ provides the celestial coordinates of the bodies at
Greenwich meridian by means of Nautical
Almanac

❖ provides measuring and computation methods

needed to navigator to find the position of the
vessel using astronomical sights.
1.1. SOLAR SYSTEM – DEFINITION AND
STRUCTURE
1.1.1. The Composition and Dimensions
of the Solar System

Solar system = assemblage consisting of the Sun

- an average star in the Milky Way Galaxy – and those
bodies orbiting around it: 8 (formerly 9) planets with
about 170 known planetary satellites (moons); countless
asteroids, some with their own satellites; comets and
other icy bodies; and vast reaches of highly tenuous gas
and dust known as the interplanetary medium

(Encyclopedia Britannica)
Asteroids are grouped into two belts:

➢ belt of asteroids between Mars and Jupiter orbits

➢ the Kupier Belt - outer the orbit of Neptune.

The belt of
asteroids
The Kupier’s
belt
 The size of Solar System

❖ depending on the distance of propagation of the

solar wind (electric charged particles emission) -
120 AU (18 billion km)
1 AU = Astronomical Unit 150,000,000 km = distance
from the Earth to the Sun.

❖ depending on the range of the gravitational force

of the Sun - 149.878 UA .
 1.1.2. The Planets of the Solar System
Planet – broadly, any relatively large natural body that
revolves in an orbit around the Sun or around some other
star and that is not radiating energy from internal nuclear
fusion
(Encyclopedia Britannica)

❖ eight planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn,

Uranus şi Neptune
❖ their orbits are located nearly in the same plane
❖ Mercury and Venus- inner (inferior) planets – their
orbits are within the Earth orbit
❖ Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune – outer
(superior) planets – their orbits are outside the Earth orbit
❖ identification – planets have a fix light, without flashes as
the stars have.
 INNER PLANETS
2. (INFERIOR) 1.
Venus Mercur
y

OUTER PLANETS
3. 4. 6.
5. (SUPERIOR) 7. 8.
Earth Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune
 JUPITER
URANUS
MARS
EARTH

MERCURY
NEPTUNE

VENUS SATURN
 too small
1.Mercury too close to the Sun

2.Venus Luceafărul

3.Earth we're on it
Planets of the
solar system:
4.Mars
(from the Sun)
5.Jupiter
Nautical
planets
6.Saturn
too far
7.Uranus

too far
8.Neptune
1.2. CELESTIAL SPHERE AND ITS
COMPONENT ELEMENTS
 1.2.1. Celestial Spehere Description

Celestial sphere – a sphere of infinite radius

which has the same center as the terrestrial sphere has,
on which stars and heavenly bodies (HB) are visible by
the observer’s eye .

Why a sphere?

❖ human eye sees the heavenly bodies as they are

arranged at the same distance from it

❖ this distance is the radius of a sphere which is the

celestial sphere ; on its surface constellations,
Sun, Moon and planets are shining.
 The observer’s Z Celestial sphere
celestial meridian PN Cardinal line
E-W
Celestial poles
axis (World Axis) Zenith-Nadir line

VISIBLE HEMISPHERE
E Q’

pN

q´
N q
S
Op S

Cardinal Celestial
line N-S W horizon
Q Celestial
INVISIBLE HEMISPHERE
equator
Prime
vertical
PS
Looking to the NORTH the
Na EAST is on the RIGHT!
❖ celestial sphere center - the Earth center
❖ celestial sphere radius - the limit of the
observer's sight
❖ observer’s celestial meridian – a great circle
formed by the intersection of the plane of
observer’s terrestrial meridian with celestial
sphere
❖ vertical line (plumb line) or Zenith-Nadir line -
the line which joins the center of the Earth with the
observer’s location
❖ Zenit - the point where the vertical line intersects
the celestial sphere
❖ Nadir – the point opposite to Zenith.
❖ the observer’s celestial horizon – intersection
between celestial sphere and a plane which is
perpendicular on the vertical line and passes
through the center of the celestial sphere
❖ visible hemisphere - the hemisphere situated
above the horizon and which contains the Zenith
❖ invisible hemisphere - the hemisphere situated
under the horizon and which contains the Nadir
❖ celestial poles axis – extension of geographical
poles axis – The World Axis
❖ celestial poles – intersection of the World Axis
with celestial sphere.
❖ elevated pole – the celestial pole located above
the celestial horizon (inside visible hemisphere)
❖ depressed pole – the celestial pole located under
the celestial horizon (inside invisible hemisphere)
❖ celestial equator – the intersection of the celestial
sphere with a plan which is perpendicular on the
World Axis and which passes through the center
of celestial sphere
❖ prime vertical circle – a circle perpendicular on
the celestial horizon which contains the cardinal
line E-W and the vertical line
❖ local latitude – the angle between celestial
horizon and celestial equator.
  Z PNOQ '& ZOS have ⊥ sides
PN
They are equal

Q’

pN E 
q´
N O
q
S
pS
W Celestial
horizon
Q

Celestial
equator PS
Na
 PN

The World Axis

1turn/
NORTHERN CELESTIAL HEMISPHERE year
pN

Q q q´
Q’
O
pS
Celestial
equator
Ecliptic
SOUTHERN CELESTIAL HEMISPHERE

PS
❖ northern celestial hemisphere – the hemisphere
located above the celestial equator; it contains the
north celestial pole

❖ southern celestial hemisphere –the hemisphere

located under the celestial equator; it contains the
south celestial pole

❖ ecliptic – the path of the Sun on its apparent

annual journey around the Earth; it is a great circle
making with celestial equator an angle of 23°27´.
 1.2.2. Equinoxial and Solsticeal Points
THE SUMMER SOLSTICE
PN The longist day
THE AUTUMNAL EQUINOX June
The observer’s The day equals the night 22
celestial meridian Sept.
22
ε’
Equinoxial
Solsticeal
points
points

THE WINTER SOLSTICE pN

The longist night
Q q q´
Q’
Dec.
O
pS
22 Celestial
equator
ε Marc Ecliptic
21
23°27´
THE SPRING EQUINOX
The day equals the night

Vernal Point
The first Point of ARIES PS
❖ equinoxial points – the intersection points of the
ecliptic with the celestial equator - equinoxes
➢ Vernal Point (The First Point of Aries) – March 21
– spring equinox – days and nights are equal - the
Sun passes through the Aries Constellation
➢ Autumnal Point – September 22 – autumnal
equinox - days and nights are equal – the Sun
passes through the Libra Constellation (Scale)

❖ solsticeal points – the intersection points of the

ecliptic with the observer’s celestial meridian -
solstices
➢ summer solstice - June 21 – the longest day
within northern hemisphere, the longest night within
southern hemisphere
➢ winter solstice – December 22 de iarnă – the
longest night within northern hemisphere, the longest day
within southern hemisphere.
 1.2.3. Celestial Tropics
PN
The equinoxes
axis

ε’ 23°27´N

TheTropic of Cancer
pN

Q q q´
Q’
O
pS

23°27´S
ε
The Tropic of Capricorn

PS
❖ the equinoxes axis – the line joining the Vernal
Point with Autumnal Point

❖ celestial tropics – the paralles of declination

of solsticeal points situated 23°27´ North and
South of celestial equator

➢ The Tropic of Cancer - within northern hemisphere

is drew by the summer solsticeal point

➢ The Tropic of Capricor - within southern

hemisphere is drew by the winter solsticeal point.
 1.2.4. Boreal and Austral Circles
Ecliptic PB PN
axis
Boreal Circle

ε’
23°27´
66°33´N

pN

Q q q´
Q’
O
pS

23°27´
ε
Solstices
axis
Austral Circle
66°33´S
PA
PS
❖ solstices axis – the line joining the two solsticeal
points

❖ ecliptic axis – the line perpendicular on the

ecliptic plane in its center. It intersects the celestial
sphere in two points:
➢ Boreal Pole – within northern celestial hemisphere
➢ Austral Pole – within southern celestial hemisphere

❖ the ecliptic divides celestial sphere into:

➢ Boreal Hemisphere
➢ Austral Hemisphere

The parallel of declination of Boreal Pole and Austral Pole:

➢ Boreal Circle – 66°33´ North
➢ Austral Circle – 66°33´ South.
 Why we needed to describe the celestial sphere?
The similarities there are between the celestial sphere
and terestrial sphere:
➢ parallels of declination are parallel to the celestial equator
➢ parallels of latitude are parallel to the terrestrial equator
➢ celestial tropics are located at 23°27´ from the celestial
equator
➢ similarly, terrestrial tropics from the terrestrial equator
➢ Boreal and Austral Circles are located at 66°33´ from
celestial equator
➢ similarly, the Northern and the Southern Polar Circles on
the terrestrial sphere
CONCLUSION: celestial spherical coordinate called declination
equals the terrestrial latitude

CONSEQUENCE: spherical celestial coordinates can be used to

determine the geographical coordinates.
What means that?

CELESTIAL
NAVIGATION!
 Cursul 2

CELESTIAL COORDINATE
SYSTEMS
Course structure:

2.1. HORIZONTAL COORDINATE SYSTEM

2.2. EQUATORIAL COORDINATE SYSTEM .

❖ plane coordinate system: 2 rectangular
axis b

P (a,b)

❖ spherical coordinate system:

➢ a reference axis
➢ a reference plane
P
❖ on the celestial sphere two systems of coordinate
are used:
➢ horizontal coordinate system
➢ equatorial coordinate system

❖ the location of a body can be found using any of

these two systems of coordinate

Each system has:

2.1. HORIZONTAL COORDINATE
SYSTEM
Reference elements:
❖ reference line - Zenit-Nadir line
❖ reference plane - celestial horizon

Spherical horizontal coordinate:

❖ zenith angle (Z)
❖ azimuth (Zn)
❖ altitude (h)
❖ zenith distance ZD.
SPHERICAL HORIZONTAL COORDINATES
(They are measured from the celestial horizon)
 2.1.1. Zenith Angle of the Body
The observer’s Z Zenith angle of
celestial meridian the body
A  PN
The parallel of Z Elevated pole
altitude

S N
O 
Z
A’

The vertical circle The celestial

of the body PS horizon

Na
❖ zenith angle of the body (Ẑ) = sferical angle at
the zenith or the arc of horizon between the
observer’s celestial meridian containing the
elevated pole and the vertical circle of heavenly
body

❖ it is measured starting at the North or South

cardinal point on the horizon, either eastward or
westward, from 0° through 90° or 180° depending
on the measurement system used (quadrantal or
semicircular)

❖ vertical circle of the body – the circle joining the

Zenith and Nadir which passes thrugh the center
of the body.
 2.1.2. The Azimuth of the Body
The observer’s Z
celestial meridian
A PN
The Azimuth of
the body
Always from
NORTH!!!

S N
O
Zn
A’
Aways clockwise!!!

The vertical circle Celestial horizon

of the body PS

Na
❖ azimuth of the body (Zn) - the arc of horizon
always measured clockwise from the cardinal point
NORTH to the vertical circle of the body

❖ it is similar to the true bearing and it range from

000° to 360°.
 2.1.3. The Altitude of the Body
Z Parallel of altitude
(ALMUCANTARAT)
A
The altitude
of the body
h
O

A’

The vertical circle The observer’s

of the body celestial horizon

Na
❖ altitude of the body (h) - arc of the vertical circle
between the observer’s celestial horizon and the
parallel of altitude of the sighted body
❖ it takes values from 0 to 90

❖ parallel of altitude – a small circle parallel to the

celestial horizon which passes through the center
of the body (ALMUCANTARAT- arabic).
Situations:
❖ h=0° heavenly body center is on the horizon
visible body
❖ the body above the horizon
positive altitude
❖ h=+90° the body in Zenith
invisible body
❖ the body under the horizon negative altitude
❖ h=-90° the body is in Nadir.
 2.1.4. Zenith Distance of the Body (ZD)
The zenith distance Z Parallel of
of the body altitude
A ZD
h ZD= 90 - h

A’

The vertical circle The observer’s

of the body celestial horizon

Na
❖ zenith distance (ZD) - arc of the vertical circle
between the Zenith point and the parallel of
altitude of the sighted body

❖ it takes values from 0 (the body in Zenith) to

180 (the body in Nadir)

❖ It usually is considered the complement of altitude

ZD = 90° - h
2.2. EQUATORIAL COORDINATE
SYSTEM
References:
❖ axis - celestial poles axis (World Axis)
❖ plane - celestial equator

Equatorial oordinates:
➢ meridian angle (t)
➢ local hour angle of the body (LHA)
➢ meridian angle of the body at Greenwich (GHA)
➢ declination ( Dec)
➢ polar distance (PD)
SPHERICAL EQUATORIAL
➢ sideral hour angle (SHA) COORDINATES
➢ right asscension (RA). (They are measured from the
celestial equator)
 2.2.1. The Meridian Angle of the Body (t)

Z
The observer’s
celestial meridian
t PN
A The meridian
upper branch Q
angle of the body
t
The World
A” Axis
O
Parallel of
The hour circle declination
of the body
Q’
PS
The celestial
Na equator
❖ upper branch of the observer’s celestial
meridian – part of the observer’s celestial
meridian which contains the Zenith point

❖ hour circle of the body – the circle which joints

the two celestial pole and passes through the
center of the body

❖ meridian angle (t) - spherical angle pointing up

the elevated pole formed between upper branch of
the observer’s celestial meridian and the heavenly
body hour circle
OR
the arc of celestial equator between the upper
branch of the observer’s celestial meridian and the
body hour circle.
❖ it is sized from 000 through 180, eastward or
westward, depending on the hemisphere where
the celestial body is.

❖ naming:
➢ tE - if the body is within eastern hemisphere
➢ tW - if the body is within western hemisphere.
2.2.2. The Local Hour Angle of the Body (LHA)

Z
The observer’s
celestial meridian PN
A
upper branch Q
The hour angle
of the body

A”
O
LHA Parallel of
The hour circle declination
of the body A’ Q’
PS
The celestial
Na equator
❖ Local Hour Angle (LHA) - the arc of celestial
equator measured clockwise between the upper
branch of the observer’s celestial meridian and the
heavenly body hour circle

❖ its values ranges from 000 to 360

If the starting point is the Greenwich Meridian it is

called Greenwich Hour Angle (GHA)

LHA =GHA + 
The size of GHA is extracted from
BROWNS’ NAUTICAL ALMANAC.
 The Correspondence between Meridian
Angle (t) and Local Hour Angle (LHA)
Observer’s Celestial Q tW Semicircular (000°-180°)

Meridian Upper Br.

LHA1 Circular (000°-360°)

Celestial
tE A1
equator
Zenith
Semicircular

E PN
W
LHA2 Circular (000°-360°)

Local Hour
A2 Meridian Angle
Angle
(t )
(LHA)
LHA  180 tW = LHA
Q’ LHA  180 tE = 360 − LHA
 2.2.3. The Sidereal Angle of the Body (SHA)
PN Parallel of
declination
The hour circle of
the body A
ε’

Q Q’

A”
?
O

ε (SHA)
The Vernal Point
The First Point of ARIES
PS
❖ Sideral Hour Angle (SHA) - arc of celestial
equator measured from The First Point of Aries
ALWAIS CLOCKWISE to the hour circle of the
body

❖ It is sized from 000 to 360

❖ Right Ascension (RA) – the arc of celestial

equator measured from The First Point of Aries
ALWAIS COUNTERCLOCKWISE to the hour
circle of the body

❖ It is sized from 000 to 360.

SHA + RA = 360
 2.2.4. Declination of the body (δ, dec)
PN Parallel of
declination
A
Declination of
the body

Q Q’
O

A”

The hour circle of The celestial

the body equator

PS
❖ declination (dec) – the arc of hour circle between
celestial equator and the heavenly body parallel of
declination

❖ Its values range from 00 to 90

❖ parallel of declination – a small circle which is

parallel to the celestial equator and which passes
through the center of the body.
Situations:

❖ dec = 0 body is on the celestial equator

❖ dec = 90 body is on the celestial pole

❖ d = N .. body within northern celestial hemisphere

❖ d = S .. body within southern celestial hemisphere

 2.2.5. The Polar Distance of the Body (PD)
PN Paralel of
The polar declination
distance A
PD
PD= 90 - δ

Q Q’
O

A”

The hour circle of The celestial

the body equator

PS
❖ polar distance (PD) - arc of hour circle between
celestial elevate pole and the heavenly body
parallel of declination
❖ Its values range from 00 through 180

❖ PD = 0 body on the elevated pole

❖ PD = 180body on the depressed pole

❖ relations between polar distance and declination

PD = 90 - δ .