Abstract
MOST persons who spend any considerable time out in the open during the night not only may at times admire the splendour of the vault of heaven on a clear night, but also learn to recognise the principal features of stellar distribution, and even gain familiarity with the effects of the diurnal and annual apparent motions. Such first-hand knowledge may perhaps be somewhat vague, but a little tuition can render it precise and useful. The necessities of the present time have emphasised one practical application. The heavens encircle the sky-line as with a vast compass-card that with a little skill he who runs may read. We have before us two little books, both written with the identical intention of facilitating the employment of this compass. The only difficulty arises in middle latitudes from the rotation of what is termed in old books the oblique sphere. This difficulty is surmounted in both in the same way, namely, that recently advocated by Lieut.-Col. Tilney, which requires that the progressive true bearings of a few selectad conspicuous stars shall be provided. The two books present the data very differently.
(1) Steering by the Stars for Night-flying, Night-marching, and Night Boat-work between Latitude 40° N. and 60° N.
With Sketch-maps and Directions for finding the Selected Stars. By Dr. J. D. White. Pp. 32. (London: J. D. Potter, n.d.) Price 1s.
(2) The Stars as Guides for Night-marching in North Latitude 50°.
By E. Walter Maunder. Pp. 72. (London: Charles H. Kelly, 1916.) Price 2s. net.
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GOODSON, H. (1)Steering by the Stars for Night-flying, Night-marching, and Night Boat-work between Latitude 40° N and 60° N (2) The Stars as Guides for Night-marching in North Latitude 50°. Nature 98, 67 (1916). https://doi.org/10.1038/098067a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/098067a0