Abstract
THIS book, which has been accepted by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty as a text-book for the Royal Navy, is one that has been wanted for some time, as it contains the whole theory and practice of nautical astronomy in one part. The method of arranging the various problems is very good. The theory of a problem is always proved first, then the problem is worked in a theoretical manner, and lastly in the manner used by navigators, so that one gets everything to do with any one problem in two or three pages, whereas most books on this subject are divided info two parts, a theoretical and a practical. The method adopted by Staff-Commander Martin ought to prove a great advantage to all persons using his book, more especially beginners. The work is divided into two parts, the first being devoted to the various methods of fixing ships' positions by the land, and of navigating a ship by what is known as “dead reckoning.” In this part also the various methods of chart construction are very fully explained, and it ought to be mentioned, for the information of naval officers, that the examples relating to charts are as much as possible arranged to be used with the “Officers' Atlas” which is supplied to each man-of-war. The examples ought therefore to be of great service to junior officers. The second part treats of the theory and practice of nautical astronomy; the method of arrangement we have already described. The volume is accompanied by the requisite charts and diagrams.
Navigation and Nautical Astronomy.
Compiled by Staff-Commander W. R. Martin. (London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1888.)
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L., H. Navigation and Nautical Astronomy . Nature 37, 582 (1888). https://doi.org/10.1038/037582a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/037582a0