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Warning: I found an error if the DR position is on the southern hemisphere. The PUB249 pdf files did not show this error and are correct (as far as I checked). All Revisions 8+ and the Windows release have been fixed.
This Python TK application calculates a good set of stars for a 3 star fix, makes all calculations similar to the FAAs Celestial Computation Sheet (see FAA doc FAA-H-8083-18).
Also, you can create a PDF file that generates Pub 249 Vol 1 for any epoch you specify.
The PUB249 as PDF is found under "Files".
I wrote this for my aircraft bubble octant :-)
It is mainly useful for air navigation as it assumes a bubble sextant but may be used for normal sextants as well.
Requires Ephem and ReportLab (optional for PDF output)
Not to be used for real-world navigation!
Features
- Generate Pub 249 PDF file for any epoch you specify
- Calculate 3 Star fix
- Use any star that is in the USNO list of navigational stars
- Full support for sun+moon with upper or lower limb
- Calculates a set of 3 favorable stars with good geometry if fields are left empty
Project Samples
