4 ms·
Celestial navigation requires an accurate clock and an almanac that needs to be updated. It is completely impractical for non-military applications.
by mike_d 2mo ago
Celestial navigation requires an accurate clock and an almanac that needs to be updated. It is completely impractical for non-military applications.
- malfist 2mo agoDoes the almanac need updating? I regularly use plate solving with my telescope and I've never had to update it's stars database
- raron 2mo agoIs that really that impractical? With a quick calculation 50 ms time offset would mean about 20 meter difference. You can get that accuracy with NTP over residential internet and a better TCXO could hold that for a day. You could sync clocks and download the almanac at each airport. The almanac could be digitally signed and NTP has an option for authentication, too. That's about 10 USD of hardware (plus what you need for image capture and processing). I'm pretty sure with dedicated hardware and better solutions you could get much better accuracy.
- 3eb7988a1663 2mo agoThey did it in the 60s for the B2 bomber[0]. I think computers are slightly faster and more reliable today, so it at least seems plausible. [0] https://www.righto.com/2026/04/B-52-star-tracker-angle-computer.html https://www.righto.com/2026/04/B-52-star-tracker-angle-compu...