Celestial navigationLaajuus (3 cr)

Objective

Knowledge and understanding of and proficiency in:
- using celestial bodies to determine the ship’s position

Content

- fundamentals of astronomical navigation
- systems of coordinates
- hour angles
- calculation methods for different celestial bodies
- use of the sextant
- use of the astronomical tables
- position fixing with the help of meridian passage of a celestial object
- position lines calculations for the different celestial bodies and position fixing with the help of position lines

Qualifications

- Terrestrial navigation 1
- Terrestrial navigation 2

Materials

Approved training during studies

Further information

Meets the requirements of STCW section A-II/2 (and A-II/1) regarding function: navigation, as per description.

Accomplishment methods

Students can:
- use professional vocabulary and concepts in an expert way in different situations
- look for information in the key information sources of the field
- choose appropriate models, methods, software and techniques according to the purpose and justify these choices

In addition, competence evaluation according to STCW code tables A-II/1 and A-II/2 columns 4 are used:
- the information obtained from nautical charts and publications is relevant, interpreted correctly and properly applied
- calculations and measurements of navigational information are accurate
- the primary method chosen for fixing the ship’s position is the most appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions
- the fix obtained by celestial observations is within accepted accuracy levels
- the accuracy of the resulting fix is properly assessed