Course Overview
This course provides students with a means to navigate a vessel by terrestrial and celestial methods. The course contents include shape of the earth and the graticule system; plane sailing; parallel sailing; Mercator and great circle sailing; determining a vessel's position by using celestial bodies; and theory and practice of sextant. It is strongly recommended that students should review algebraic and trigonometric functions prior to taking this course.
Prerequisite(s)
- No prerequisites are required for this course.
Credits
20.0
Domestic fees
$1,522.95
International fees are typically 3.25 times the domestic tuition. Exact cost will be calculated upon completion of registration.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Explain the concept of earth shape used for marine navigation.
- Calculate the arrival and departure position, and determine course and distance using plane, parallel, and Mercator sailing.
- Solve spherical triangles.
- Calculate the course and distance between two points (places) using great circle sailing.
- Describe composite great circle sailing.
- Explain the solar system and celestial bodies useful for navigation.
- Describe the celestial sphere and celestial bodies.
- Define the equation of time.
- Obtain celestial information using the Nautical Almanac.
- Calculate azimuth and amplitude bearings of celestial bodies and to determine compass error.
- Demonstrate proper use of the marine sextant.
- Calculate the latitude and position line using latitude and meridian altitude method.
- Calculate the longitude and position line by longitude by chronometer.
- Calculate intercept using the Marc St. Hilaire method.
- Transfer calculated position lines to obtain vessel's position.
Effective as of Spring/Summer 2012
Related Programs
Astro Navigation 2 (NAUT 1826) is offered as a part of the following programs:
School of Transportation
- Chief Mate
Certificate Part-time
- Watchkeeping Mate Near Coastal (WKMNC)
Certificate Part-time
Course Offerings
Spring/Summer 2026
Below is one offering of NAUT 1826 for the Spring/Summer 2026 term.
CRN 70481
Dates
Jul 02 - Sep 11 Loading
- CRN 70481
- $1522.95 Domestic fees
Class meeting times
| Dates | Days | Times | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 02 - Sep 11 | Mon - Fri | 08:30 - 16:00 | Marine BMC |
Duration
11 weeks
Instructor
TBD
Course outline
Course outline TBD — see Learning Outcomes in the interim.
Important information
- Textbooks can be purchased from the BCIT Bookstore, and may be shipped to the Marine Campus Library for pick up, or your home address.
Confirmation
Required
To proceed with registration and add this course to the cart, please confirm:
Status
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice. Find out more about BCIT course cancellations.