The online class "Lunars: Finding Longitude by Lunar Distance" was a very interesting introduction to the esoteric history of lunars as practiced at sea in the pre chronometer 18th century tall ship era. Practical instruction was also done demonstrating the physical process of observing a lunar with a sextant followed by a how to lunar sight reduction example using a pocket calculator, formulae, and tables. A very rewarding experience.
Greg Rudzinski
Retired Merchant Mariner
SUNY Maritime class of 80
Celestial Navigation in the Age of Sail
Winter / Spring 2026:
Navigate like the crew of the Charles W. Morgan! A fast-paced, two-day introductory workshop in the history and practice of celestial navigation in the Age of Sail. Examining original logbooks and notebooks from the Morgan's voyages we'll apply these same methods to modern navigation. By the end of the weekend, you'll have all the tools you need to sail by the Sun and stars across any ocean. And we'll follow a historic whaling voyage of the Charles W. Morgan across the Pacific, a voyage filled with intrigue: an unknown illness, a captain's resignation, and a mutiny, and port calls on tropical islands and the snowy north of Japan.
In this class, we'll learn how to use and adjust sextants. We'll become experts in the classic method of finding latitude by "Noon Sun". We'll also cover in detail the "equation of time", the "analemma", and the mysterious math of longitude ... mysterious on day one, easy by the end of this two-day workshop! Throughout, we will compare what we're doing with actual logbook entries and calculations in the collections of Mystic Seaport Museum, bringing historical documents to life.
This is real navigation, not just a class "about" navigation. Fast and intense, students who complete this workshop will have the basic celestial navigation skills to cross any ocean using the Sun, a sextant, and a few other simple tools, drawn directly from New England maritime history.
All workshops: $ 149 per person, per workshopCreated and taught by Frank Reed, celestial navigation and astronomy consultant on the team that found Shackleton's "Endurance" in 2022. Also a recent guest expert in celestial navigation on Neil deGrasse Tyson's StarTalk on The National Geographic Channel.
- Nine hours of class sessions.
- Before this workshop: no pre-requisites; designed for beginners.
- Some math you'll need: Basic addition and subtraction; good familiarity with the concepts of latitude and longitude; introductory algebra concepts, especially positive and negative numbers.
- Recommended for ages 18 and up, students as young as age 13 welcome.
If you're registered for an online workshop, you're invited to attend hour-long sextant practical sessions in Rhode Island and Connecticut scheduled as weather and other factors permit. These live, in-person sessions are included in your registration for online classes.
Comments:
Greg Rudzinski wrote: 6👍
John Carbone wrote: 5👍
Celestial Navigation Courses with Frank Reed ... As a formal naval officer navigator, navigator on Bermuda passages, and many celestial courses, I highly recommend Frank Reed in any course or program he teaches. I have taken his celestial courses at Mystic Seaport, online and followed his engaging web community (NavList.net). Every encounter has been different and educational. With his expertise and polished presentations, you will learn and understand the theory and practice celestial navigation. Frank is the consummate professor and someone not to be missed.
Jeffrey Rock wrote: 8👍
Lunar Distance and Age of Sail Classes:
Fascinating classes taught by a fascinating and capable instructor.
Lunars class is challenging and fun. Frank presents several different recipes for accomplishing lunars, one of which seems almost easy (kind of). Highly recommended for anyone interested in celestial navigation or nautical navigation history.
Jeffrey Rock
FAA Designated Pilot Examiner
Fascinating classes taught by a fascinating and capable instructor.
Lunars class is challenging and fun. Frank presents several different recipes for accomplishing lunars, one of which seems almost easy (kind of). Highly recommended for anyone interested in celestial navigation or nautical navigation history.
Jeffrey Rock
FAA Designated Pilot Examiner
