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A Return to the Sextant-Maritime Navigation Using Celestial Bodies and the Horizon
Joshua J R Critchley-Marrows1, Daniele Mortari2
1School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 11, 2023
Summary
Satellite navigation faces risks, reviving interest in celestial navigation. This study applies space optical navigation techniques to maritime use, achieving 100m accuracy for ships using stars and horizons.
Area of Science:
- Maritime Navigation
- Celestial Navigation
- Optical Navigation
Background:
- Satellite navigation (e.g., GPS) is the primary method for maritime vessel positioning.
- Risks like jamming and spoofing highlight vulnerabilities in radio-frequency (RF) positioning.
- Traditional celestial navigation methods, like sextants, are becoming less common among mariners.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the application of space optical navigation principles to maritime ship navigation.
- To re-evaluate and modernize celestial navigation techniques for contemporary maritime challenges.
- To provide a reliable alternative or supplement to satellite navigation systems.
Main Methods:
- Developing models that use celestial bodies (stars) and the horizon to determine position.
- Adapting space-based optical navigation techniques for terrestrial maritime applications.
- Simulating and analyzing the accuracy of derived latitude and longitude under various conditions.
Main Results:
- Models successfully utilize stars and the horizon to derive latitude and longitude.
- Achieved accuracy is at the 100-meter level under good star visibility conditions.
- The derived accuracy meets the requirements for coastal and oceanic voyages.
Conclusions:
- Celestial navigation, modernized with optical principles, offers a viable solution to RF-derived positioning risks.
- This approach can provide accurate maritime positioning, especially in open waters.
- The study advocates for the integration of these techniques to enhance maritime navigation safety and reliability.
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