BSc Nautical Sciences NAVIGATION II Syllabus - Mumbai University 2026

Module I: Section A

• The celestial sphere, celestial poles equinoctial, declination, celestial meridians, vertical circles, prime vertical, Ecliptic, First point of Aries, RA, SHA, GHA, LHA.v and d corrections for moon and planets. Position of a heavenly body on celestial sphere by its declination and GHA, or by its altitude and azimuth, or by its celestial latitude and longitude. Nautical Almanac: Information in Nautical Almanac and using itfor celestial observations Section B – To find the true Azimuth of a heavenly body, thecompass error and hence the deviation of themagnetic compass for the direction of the ship’s head(ABC tables).

Module II: Section A

• Visible, sensible and rational horizons, zenith, nadir, sextant altitude, apparent altitude, correction of altitude, dip, refraction, semi-diameter, parallax in altitude, horizontal parallax, augmentation to moon’s S.D., reduction to H.P.True altitude and True Zenith dist. Total correction tables.Artificial horizon & correction of altitudes there from; back angle altitudes. Principles of position lines. Geographical position, circle of position, why P/L is at right angles to the Azimuth – exceptions. Section B – To find the latitude by meridian altitude of a heavenlybody. To calculate meridian passage time andapprox meridian altitude for setting on the sextant(computed altitude).

Module III: Section A

• Position to draw the P/L. Effect of change of DR position on position for P/L and practical applications. Section B Latitude and position line by observation of Polaris.

Module Practical

• Sextant – To use sextant for altitude of heavenly bodies. Then to correct the sextant altitude to true altitude required for astronomical calculations – Individual and total corrections.

Reference Books

This paper runs across both semesters of the year and the University prints one list of reference books for it, at the end of the second half. Her list is repeated here so that this half is not read as a paper she recommends no reading for.

• 1 Principles of Navigation Capt. P.M. Sarma
• 2 Principles of Navigation Capt. Joseph & Capt. Rewari
• 3 Practical Navigation Capt. H. Subramanium
• 4 Admiralty Manual of Navigation Vol. I & II
• 5 The Principles & Practice of Navigation A. Frost
• 6 Nicholl’s Concise Guide Vol. I & II
• 7 Bridge equipment, Charts & Publications Capt. H. Subramanium
• 8 Nories Nautical Table
• 9 Nautical Almanac