Celestial Navigation for iPhone

App summary

Celestial Navigation is an iPhone application created by Dr. Harald Merkel for people interested in travel and navigation. The app automates the bookkeeping and math needed to convert a sextant observation into an accurate line of position on a chart. It also includes a perpetual nautical almanac and displays intermediate values so you can confirm each step of the reduction.

Core capabilities

• Interactive Star Finder — point your device at the sky to identify navigational stars and assist with sightings.
• Map customization — adjust how the chart and plotted lines look to match your preferences.
• Save and review observations — store sextant readings and revisit previous solutions for logging or training.
• Compute azimuth and range — derives the bearing and distance associated with a computed position line.
• Plot the position line — draw the resulting line of position directly on the map for quick situational awareness.
• Verification outputs — shows intermediate numbers from the reduction so you can audit the calculation.

How the app reduces a sighting

Enter your sextant observation and time, and the app performs the astronomical reductions using its built-in almanac. It walks through the steps, exposing intermediate figures for verification, and then produces a precise line of position that can be plotted on the map.

Requirements and recommendations

• Device: iPhone (app store availability may vary).
• Hardware: a reliable sextant is recommended for best results — the app expects real-world sight data.
• Use case: intended for navigators and enthusiasts who want to learn or perform traditional celestial navigation with digital assistance.

Suggested alternative (free)

If you’re looking for a free option to try alongside this app, consider the Ola Driver app — a no-cost alternative that some users recommend for basic navigation-related utilities and on-the-go convenience.