# Celestial Navigation Home Study **URL:** \ **Category:** Maritime Training & Licensing\ **Created:** [April 18, 2013, 12:21pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/celestial-navigation-home-study/10143 "2013-04-18T12:21:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![bmag](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/bmag/32/73215_2.png) [@bmag](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/bmag)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2013, 6:40am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/celestial-navigation-home-study/10143/21 "2013-04-25T06:40:43Z")
Thank you for the replies. It’s not that I can’t pass the test as I obviously did but in 1998 and just don’t feel like paying 5 grand to do it again. And for what it’s worth celestial is about as relevant as oar commands anyway. It’s what Columbus used to discover the “new world”. Celestial is required but sextants aren’t? 33 years on the ocean circling the globe and never needed it once. ---
**Author:** ![Deuce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Deuce](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Deuce)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2013, 8:35am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/celestial-navigation-home-study/10143/22 "2013-04-25T08:35:23Z")
> [@"PaddyWest2012"](#): > > Maybe I’m just old fashioned but I agree. Why should anyone who can’t use a sextant to accurately fix their position hold an oceans endorsement? Some damn third world country is never more than a button push or two away from shooting down all our damn satellites. I would be extremely uncomfortable being more than a day’s sailing away from shore without a sextant and some tables on board. I would be extremely uncomfortable sailing with someone that actually believes that third world countries are capable of shooting down “all our damn satellites”! Just sayin’! ---
**Author:** ![bmag](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/bmag/32/73215_2.png) [@bmag](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/bmag)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2013, 10:52am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/celestial-navigation-home-study/10143/23 "2013-04-25T10:52:11Z")
Haha well said deuce. And concerning home study and testing at the Coast Guard, it’s not very seamless either. First you need to apply at the REC . They then contact NMC to get approval for your testing. Then and only after approval can the REC schedule your test. Currently in New York It’s at least 90 days away. That info is current as of this morning. And you need to dress like Columbus to take the test (joke) ---
**Author:** ![Xmsccapt\_ret](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/b77776/32.png) [@Xmsccapt\_ret](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Xmsccapt_ret)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 4:43am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/celestial-navigation-home-study/10143/24 "2013-04-26T04:43:20Z")
> [@"bmag"](#): > > Thank you for the replies. It’s not that I can’t pass the test as I obviously did but in 1998 and just don’t feel like paying 5 grand to do it again. > And for what it’s worth celestial is about as relevant as oar > commands anyway. It’s what Columbus used to discover the “new world”. Celestial is required but sextants aren’t? > 33 years on the ocean circling the globe and never needed it once. I always get a kick out of the group that have a mindset of " I can’t use a sextant so they’re not relevant". Well in my 30 plus years I never needed a lifeboat, but I never went to sea without one either. Satellites falling out of the sky is one thing, but your vessel’s inability to receive a gps signal is another. Oh, ok… So you have a pocket gps. To me having an ocean license and not only knowing but also practicing celestial is a mark of professional knowledge and ability. Actually, I’ve needed a celestial fix, in my time at sea more than once and thankfully I knew how to obtain one. So, you passed the test once and now don’t feel like you can. Seems you learned enough to pass the test but never put the knowledge to practice. If you had, sitting for the celestial again would not be an issue, and instead of a giant hurdle it would only be a minor inconvenience. It seems you have two choices my man, belly up to the study table, hit the books, rekindle some past knowledge, or open your check book and have someone that knows celestial teach you ( again). I think Columbus used latitude sailing… ---
**Author:** ![Bayrunner](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/bayrunner/32/966_2.png) [@Bayrunner](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Bayrunner)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 11:44pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/celestial-navigation-home-study/10143/25 "2013-10-29T23:44:03Z")
Im going to bump this thread to see if you guys have anything more to add. Im looking to take a celestial course after the first of the year and im looking for a book or study guide that will help me learn the terms and the theory behind celestial so im not completely ignorant (like I am now) of the subject matter. It might help me to learn the practical a little easier when I go to take the class, and if I have trouble with that I can use my time studying the practical side instead of learning the theory side. And I suck at math so I already know im in for some burning of brain cells. ☹ Celestial Nav for Yachtsman Celestial Nav for the clueless Celestial Nav for the Complete Idiot: A simple explanation If any of you an opinion of these books please speak up. Ill probably order one and read it so I can learn a little about it before I go into the class. ---
**Author:** ![Xmsccapt\_ret](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/b77776/32.png) [@Xmsccapt\_ret](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Xmsccapt_ret)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 8:29am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/celestial-navigation-home-study/10143/26 "2013-10-30T08:29:30Z")
> [@"Bayrunner"](#): > > Im going to bump this thread to see if you guys have anything more to add. Im looking to take a celestial course after the first of the year and im looking for a book or study guide that will help me learn the terms and the theory behind celestial so im not completely ignorant (like I am now) of the subject matter. It might help me to learn the practical a little easier when I go to take the class, and if I have trouble with that I can use my time studying the practical side instead of learning the theory side. And I suck at math so I already know im in for some burning of brain cells. ☹ > > Celestial Nav for Yachtsman > Celestial Nav for the clueless > Celestial Nav for the Complete Idiot: A simple explanation > > If any of you an opinion of these books please speak up. Ill probably order one and read it so I can learn a little about it before I go into the class. The math is not difficult, keeping organized and what the process is to obtain the info gained from the pubs can be. Go to amazon and look for a book called " the primer of navigation" by Mixter. ( it’s out of print but one of the best ever published). Also get a Bowditch ( both volumes) . Given you have a decent education and can read you should be able to gain much info between these two books. Perhaps even enough to pass the USCG test. It’s not magic, just takes study and dedication. Good luck. Ps: I’d leave the above books you mentioned for the pleasure boat crowd. ---
**Author:** ![Tugted](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7ab992/32.png) [@Tugted](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Tugted)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 8:58am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/celestial-navigation-home-study/10143/27 "2013-10-30T08:58:52Z")
BR take it @ CMTI ---
**Author:** ![Bayrunner](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/bayrunner/32/966_2.png) [@Bayrunner](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Bayrunner)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 11:59am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/celestial-navigation-home-study/10143/28 "2013-10-30T11:59:17Z")
[QUOTE=Tugted;123466]BR take it @ CMTI[/QUOTE] Maybe, it depends on the time frame. Mid Atlantic is just down the street from me so its much more convenient for me to go there. I have had Mid-Atlantic’s celestial instructor before and he does a good job of explaining stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Tugted](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7ab992/32.png) [@Tugted](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Tugted)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 5:11pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/celestial-navigation-home-study/10143/29 "2013-10-30T17:11:18Z")
> [@"Bayrunner"](#): > > Maybe, it depends on the time frame. Mid Atlantic is just down the street from me so its much more convenient for me to go there. I have had Mid-Atlantic’s celestial instructor before and he does a good job of explaining stuff. Yeah he was training under Amy when I took it & filled in the last 2 days. He’s great ---
**Author:** ![Bayrunner](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/bayrunner/32/966_2.png) [@Bayrunner](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Bayrunner)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2013, 8:02pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/celestial-navigation-home-study/10143/30 "2013-10-31T20:02:27Z")
> [@"Xmsccapt(ret)"](#): > > The math is not difficult, keeping organized and what the process is to obtain the info gained from the pubs can be. Go to amazon and look for a book called " the primer of navigation" by Mixter. ( it’s out of print but one of the best ever published). Also get a Bowditch ( both volumes) . Given you have a decent education and can read you should be able to gain much info between these two books. Perhaps even enough to pass the USCG test. It’s not magic, just takes study and dedication. Good luck. Ps: I’d leave the above books you mentioned for the pleasure boat crowd. I ordered that book. Ill try to find a few used Bowditches soon as well. I also ordered one of the yacht books in case its dumbed down a little more. I would rather test at the school. Its less intimidating that way. [Previous page](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/celestial-navigation-home-study/10143.md?page=1)