NAV 3000 - Celestial Navigation

Open

Aug 9

Written By The Verdant Compass Institute

(1) Enrollment Requirements: None (Open; NAV 1000 & NAV 2000 recommended)

(2) Duration: 3 hours

(3) Format: Classroom

(4) Course Description: This specialized course delivers an efficient, highly practical foundation for celestial navigation, instructing participants on how to maintain directional certainty without mechanical instruments or satellite networks. Focus is placed strictly on expedient land-based tracking, utilizing solar shadow geometry by day and critical index constellations by night. Participants will learn to identify key astronomical signposts, translate planetary movement into true cardinal bearings, and calculate rough latitude lines using ancestral geometric principles. This course is designed specifically for individuals with little to no prior experience in orienteering or land navigation.

(5) Terminal Learning Objectives (TLO):

Participants will be able to:

TLO 1: Plot a true East-West baseline under classroom conditions using simulated solar shadow-axis calculations.
TLO 2: Isolate primary navigational index stars to establish reliable steering marks.
TLO 3: Calculate approximate geographic latitude lines utilizing body-geometry angular measurements against celestial baselines.

(6) Course Outline:

Phase I — Introduction & Conceptual Frameworks (2 Hours)
- Instruction: Classroom instruction detailing celestial bodies, geometry of shadows, axis corrections, and solar compasses.
- Key Topics: Celestial navigation techniques.
Phase II — Practical Exercise (1 Hour)
- Practical Application: Chart based exercises and scenarios. Participants practice how and when to implement celestial navigation techniques via simulated problems.
- Key Topics: Celestial navigation techniques.

(7) Completion & Assessment Requirements:

This course is informational or experiential and does not carry a formal assessment. Credit is awarded based on attendance, participation, and adherence to the Code of Conduct.

(8) Awarded Certificates & Identifiers: