Spring 2005
/ Volume
10, Number 1
Celestial
Navigation 101
While
the crew took the role of teachers on the Bounty, when it
came to the subject of celestial
navigation, the tables turned. Two Mount Holyoke students,
Cindy Dunn ‘06 and Natalia Stefanova ‘05, had learned
about celestial navigation on a previous sailing experience,
and instructed several other students and crew members in the
basics of navigating by the stars. “Back in the days
when the Polynesians sailed across the Pacific from Tahiti
to Hawaii in wooden boats, they had no compasses or radar to
help them. They knew where each star was rising every night
and navigated by positioning themselves relative to the sun
and stars,” Stefanova said.
 Now celestial navigation
is done with a sextant, an instrument that measures angles
between
different celestial bodies and the
horizon. Stefanova explained that celestial navigation has a
steep learning curve. “Once you take the measurement, there
are lots of tables to check and calculations to make. Back when
the Bounty was sailing, they used a sextant but had none of the
tables or charts we use now.” To enhance celestial navigation
(and dead reckoning), the captain simulated a major electrical
failure on board. “Twice we were able to use the stars
to confirm our position. An accurate use of the sextant gives
a more precise reading than radar,” said Stefanova.
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