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New Computational Methods for Solving Problems of the Astronomical Vessel Position

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 April 2005

Tien-Pen Hsu
Affiliation:
Institute of Civil Engineering, National Taiwan University
Chih-Li Chen
Affiliation:
Institute of Merchant Marine, National Taiwan Ocean University
Jiang-Ren Chang
Affiliation:
Institute of Systems Engineering and Naval Architecture, National Taiwan Ocean University. Email: [email protected]

Abstract

In this paper, a simplified and direct computation method formulated by the fixed coordinate system and relative meridian concept in conjunction with vector algebra is developed to deal with the classical problems of celestial navigation. It is found that the proposed approach, the Simultaneous Equal-altitude Equation Method (SEEM), can directly calculate the Astronomical Vessel Position (AVP) without an additional graphical procedure. The SEEM is not only simpler than the matrix method but is also more straightforward than the Spherical Triangle Method (STM). Due to tedious computation procedures existing in the commonly used methods for determining the AVP, a set of optimal computation procedures for the STM is also suggested. In addition, aimed at drawbacks of the intercept method, an improved approach with a new computation procedure is also presented to plot the celestial line of position without the intercept. The improved approach with iteration scheme is used to solve the AVP and validate the SEEM successfully. Methods of solving AVP problems are also discussed in detail. Finally, a benchmark example is included to demonstrate these proposed methods.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2005 The Royal Institute of Navigation

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