Practical considerations aside, there is something soul-satisfying about looking to the sky to plot one's course. And despite the proliferation of electronic navigational devices, celestial navigation remains an essential tool for those who do not wish to be caught short when modern technology fails. Ideally, today's navigators employ a combination of DR and GPS technology, along with traditional methods of celestial navigation.

In this easy-to-use guide, Hewitt Schlereth explains clearly and concisely how to navigate any stretch of sea using only a hand-held sextant, a watch, a plotting sheet and a copy of the Nautical Almanac. The basic process is simple: take a sight with a sextant, establish a secondary reference or benchmark sight, compare the two sights and plot the result of the comparison on a chart. Schlereth demonstrates how to take sights by the sun, moon, stars and planets, discussing the advantages and disadvantages of each method. The reader is taken carefully through several examples and situational illustrations, making this a most effective self-teaching guide.

Also discussed in a straightforward manner are the fundamental theories of astronomy and celestial navigation. Common errors are reviewed and several tips on how to improve accuracy are given.