Celestial Navigation (CEL)

Course Topics

DGS EXAMINATION FORMAT

Introduction

Solar System

Celestial Poles

Perihelion and Aphelion

Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion

Solstices and Equinoxes

Declination of Bodies

d', 'v' Corrections

Twilight

Earth - Moon System

Solar and Lunar Eclipses

Celestial Sphere and Equinoctial System of Co-ordinates

Celestial Sphere, Celestial Poles and Celestial Meridians

Equinoctial

Obliquity of Ecliptic

Hour Angle

GHA, LHA and SHA

Right Ascension

Daily Motion and Horizon System of Co-ordinates

Rational Horizon, Zenith, Nadir and Vertical Circle

Projection of PZX Celestial Spherical Triangle on the Plane of Rational Horizon

Elevated Pole and Depressed Pole

True Altitude, Azimuth and True Zenith Distance

PZX Triangle and Circumpolar Bodies

Sextant and Altitude Corrections

Errors of Sextant

Reading a Sextant

Index Error

Visible, Sensible and Rational Horizons

Observed Altitude, Dip, Apparent Altitude

Calculation of True Amplitude

Refraction, Semi-Diameter, and Parallax

Amplitude

Theoretical and Visible Sunrise and Sunset

Time

Relationship Between LHA (Sun) and LAT

Equation of Time and Solar day

GMT, LMT and Longitude Relationship

Zone and Standard Times

Nautical Almanac-Information in Nautical Almanac and using it for Celestial Observations

Latitude by Meridian Altitude-Calculation of Latitude by Meridian Altitude

Pole Star Observations

Identification of Polaris, a0, a1, a2 Corrections

Calculation of Azimuth and Position Line and a Position Through Which it Passes

Position Fixing

Ex-Meridian of Sun

Long by Chron and Intercept Methods of Sight Calculation

True Azimuth of a Body

Position Finding by Simultaneous and Staggered Observations

Fixing Out of Sight of Land

Errors of Compasses - Azimuths

Calculation of Magnetic Compass and Gyro Compass Errors by Observing Heavenly Bodies

Calculation of Magnetic Compass and Gyro Compass Errors by using ABC Tables

DGS EXAMINATION FORMAT

SECOND MATE (FG)

MAX Marks: 200

Duration: 3 HOURS PASS Marks: 140

Note:

Use nautical almanac 1992
Use of non-programmable scientific calculator is permitted, however, each step should be clearly shown

CELESTIAL NAVIGATION

SECTION I – PRINCIPLES OF NAVIGATION

ATTEMPT ANY TWO QUESTIONS OUT OF THREE (30 MARKS EACH)

Note: 1 At least one question will have a numerical component.

SECTION II- PRACTICAL NAVIGATION

QUESTION NO. 4 IS COMPULSORY. ATTEMPT ANY THREE QUESTIONS OUT OF REMAINING FOUR (35 MARKS EACH)

4. STAGGERED/SIMULTANEOUS PLOTS

5. LONG BY CHRON SUN/MOON

6. INTERCEPT METHOD

7. COMPASS ERROR BY ABC TABLES &/OR ERROR BY AMPLITUDE &/OR TIMES OF RISING/SETTING/MERIDIAN PASSAGE/MERIDIAN ALTITUDE OF SUN

8. POLARIS/COMPUTATION OF ALTITUDE/EX-MERIDIAN

Please note that the above format is only an indicative of the examination paper. The candidates are advised to refer to detailed teaching syllabus and the course outline.

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