New Ideas for Celestial Navigation in the Third Millennium

Abstract

This paper reports on innovative mathematical and analytical approaches to celestial navigation. Beyond the common-sense recommendation for automation of the calculations, it is necessary to consider the specific algorithms used. The advantages of these new algorithms become evident when navigational practice is extended beyond the usual twilight round of sights or the noon Sun line. But exploiting the full advantages of the algorithms would probably require new software. This leads us to consider the prospects of applying new information technologies to the task of taking celestial observations.