THE EXCELSIOR AZIMUTH AND POSITION FINDING TABLES

The main objective of the tables contained in the present classic publication was to provide ship navigators with better means to find the position of their ships through analyzing the sun, starts and moon altitudes. The information was compiled by the professional mariner possessing great practical seagoing experience and so many real-life observations. Traditionally for this sort of publications, the volume opens with the explanations and use of the tables – this is necessary to enable the readers to get maximum use of the content.

This chapter is followed with the one containing general rules and examples and also valuable remarks including calculation formulae and position finding rules. Then, there are dozens of practical examples of applications of the tables when navigating and this is where the introductory part of the book ends. The tables themselves make the major part of the book. The volume will be interesting for the people fond of marine navigation, who not only want to navigate their vessels safely but also need to have a good picture of the underlying essentials and some historical background – it would be good to know how all these were handled in not so distant past.