1.
How to use the Star-Finder
Overview of Star-finder:
Star-finder including Main Plate, and following by 10 accessory plates.
The Maine Plate contains North and South Hemisphere on both sides of Plate as well as all star.
Each accessory plate will be divided by the latitude, from 0 to 05, 15, 25, 35, 45, 55, 65, 75, 85 N and S
on both side of plate.
Each plate contains the Scale of altitude, True Azimuth of the Star and the Arrow 0/ 180 degree.
So that when having the LHA of Aries on hand we can find the Location of the Star with Approx.
Altitude and Azimuth.
In order to find the Star, it is important to know where we are, where we can see the star on the sky.
The Main plate contains the
Stars on N hemisphere.
Main plate on
S hemisphere
Accesory designed by
Latitude, include
N and S
Star Azimuth
Altitude divided
by each 10*
To find the Star we following the Steps.
Step 1. Obtain necessary information that we need to have on hand are:
- Date and Time in UTC.
- Ship’s position
Step2. Finding LHA of Aries.
- Base on the UTC, refer to Nautical Almanac, we are able to find the GHA of Aries.
- Go to yellow page for Increment correction we can find the Increment.
- LHA = GHA + Incre’ + - Longitude. (W-, E+)
Step 3. Find the Star base on LHA.
- Take the plate with Latitude closed to latitude of our position.
- Insert the plate on top of main one.
- Rotate the Arrow to the Value of LHA on the Main plate, so that the Value of LHA on main
plate is the same as LHA you calculate above.
- Look at The Scale on accessory plate you can notice that each star could you see on the sky.
- Each Star will be located by Altitude and Azimuth by the Scale.
2. To find the Compass’s Error by the Star.
Step 1. Obtain necessary information that we need to have on hand are:
- Date and time in UTC.
- Ship’s position.
- HDG (Gyro Heading)
- MDG (Magnetic Heading).
- Variation.
Step 2. Find the Location of star by Using the Star-finder.
- The star located by the True Azimuth and Altitude that we find in star-finder.
- After that using the compass repeater to find the Star base on the Azimuth and Altitude.
- Indeed, it is not easy to use the Sextan to find the star by its Altitude. But we can use out fist
to estimate the Altitude of the Star, Each fist = approx. 10 Degrees. Therefore, if the Altitude
of the Star is 40 degrees will be equal to 4 fist.
- After located the Star, we can find the Azimuth from Star by Compass Repeater.
Step 3. Find out the compass’s Error.
- Having Azimuth, which is obtained from Gyro Compass repeater.
- Using the Nautical Almanac and Norie’s Nautical Tables to find out the True Azimuth of the
Star.
- Gyro’s Error = True Azimuth - Azimuth (obtained by Gyro Compass).
- Magnetic’s Error = True Azimuth -Azimuth (obtained by Magnetic Compass).
- Azimuth (Magnetic Compass) = Azimuth (obtained by Gyro Compass) + (MDG- HDG).
How to use the Star-finder?
Let Take the Example for more details.
EX:
On 11th of July in 2021 at [Link], ship position Lat= 24*- 34.2’N and Long= 119*- 21.5’E.
Find the Stars should they be visible on the sky?
Step1: Find the GHA of Aries and LHA base on Time in UTC from Nautical
Almanac.
- At 18h, GHA of Aries = 199*-51.8’
- 03s 07m, Increment = 0*- 46.9’
- Therefor at 180307, GHA of Aries = 199*-51.8’ + 0*- 46.9’ = 200*- 38.7’
What we need now is LHA of Aries in order to find the Sky where the Star Visible.
LHA = GHA of Aries + Long = 200*- 38.7’ + 119*- 21.5’ = 320*- 0.2’ (with Lat E=+; W = -)
Step 2: Use the Star-finder.
- Take the one of those plate, which is having Lat closest to the Ship ‘s Lat.
- Our Lat= 24 degree, we can take the plate with 25 degree.
- Rotate the Arrow point to the 320* on the Scale of main plate.
- Now we can see which Star should visible on our sky.
Choose Lat closest
to out Lat.
In side the Scale where should
star visible in corresponding with
out position.
Rotate the arrow, poiting
to corresponding L.H.A on
main one.
-
How to use the Nautical Almanac and Norie’s Nautical Table in order
to find the Compass error by Star?
Step 1: choose the Star
Base on Star-find with LHA, we found which star should be visible on our sky.
Now I will choose one of these brightest, for example: star Fomalhaut with approximately Azimuth=
156* and Altitude = 31*. See pict.
The Altitude 31*
155*
The Azimuth 156*
Now go to compass repeater, Find the Star with Approx. Azimuth and Altitude (31* = 3 fist).
Using the Azimuth Circle to find out the AZ of Fomalhaut = 156*
- At [Link] on 11th of July 2021.
- Long = 24*- 33.2’ N and Long = 119*- 20.3E
- HDG= 229*, MDG = 233*.
- Var’ = 3.3*w
- From Nautical Almanac with Star Fomalhaut we have Dec’ = 29* 30.4’s and SHA = 15* 17.5’
(with the Star we don’t have correction for Dec’ as we do with Sun, moon or planet.)
Step 2: Find the LHA
At 18h, GHA = 199* 51.8’
At 08m 00s, Increment = 2* 00.3’
At [Link] GHA = 199*51.8’ + 2* 00.3’ = 201* 52.1’
LHA of Star = GHA + Long + SHA = 201* 52.1’ + 119*20.3’ + 15* 17.5’ = 336* 290.9’ (E=+, W= -)
If LHA> 360*, LHA’ = LHA - 360*
Step3: find the True Azimuth of Fomalhaut star by using ABC method.
In order to find the True AZ, we need the 3 value A, B, C.
A can be obtained base on the Value of LHA of Star and Lat.
B can be obtained base on the Value of LHA of Star and Dec’
C = A+ B (if A and B have Same name, S or N)
C = A - B (if A and B have Different name, C will take the name of A or B which one is greater).
Now go on without Value: LHA = 336* 29.9’, Dec’ = 29* 30.4’S, Lat = 24* 33.2’
From Norie’s Nautical Table
Find the Value A.
LHA = 336* 29.9’
Lat. Value of A
24* 1.02
24* 33.2’ A
25* 1.07
Let interpolate the Value: with Lat =24* 33.2’ approximately equal to 24.5*
(24.5-24) / (A- 1.02) = (25-24)/ (1.07-1.02)
-> A = 1.045 S (name opposite to Lat , Except when L.H.A between 90* and 270* )
Due to our LHA = 336 * and our Lat named N, therefore A take S. By the way due to LHA = 336* 29.9’
approximately equal to 336*30’, so we don’t need to interpolate by LHA as we did with Lat to find the
final Value of A. otherwise we have to do so.
Find the Value B.
LHA = 336* 29.9’
Dec’ Value of B
29 1.3
29* 30.4’S B
30 1.45
Interpolate Same as A
B = 1.42S ( name always same as the Dec’)
Our Dec’ name s therefore B named S.
C = A + B = 1.42 + 1.045=2.465 S approximately equal to 2.47S.
Find out the AZ base on Value of C and Latitude.
C = 2.47
Lat Value of AZ
24 23.9
24* 33.2’ AZ ( True Azimuth)
25 24.1
Az = 24*
the Azimuth is N or S depending on the name of C and E or W depending on the Value of the
L.H.A, (E if 180< LHA < 360, W if 0 < LHA < 180)
Due to C name S and LHA = 336* is between 180* and 360*
Therefore, AZ = S 24* E
It means that the True AZ = 180- AZ= 180-24 = 156*
Step 4. Find Compass Error.
The Gyro’s Error = True Azimuth - Azimuth (obtained by Gyro) = 156- 156 = 0*
Mag’s Error = True Azimuth - (Azimuth (obtained by Gyro) + (MDG - HDG))
= 156 - (156 + (233 - 229)) = 4*w
Dev’ (Deviation) = Error - Var’ = 4*w - 3.3*W = - 4 - (-3.3) = 0.7*w.
