What a joyful and stimulating experience to enroll in Frank Reed's class, Celestial Navigation: 19th Century Methods. Frank is a skillful and engaging teacher, able to draw students into this fascinating subject, whether they be novice or experienced. His depth of knowledge is tremendous. Participants get a real taste of what it was like to be aboard a sailing ship of the day. I learned much to enliven my own teaching and decode 19th century ship's logs. It is a rare experience, indeed, to have so much thoughtfulness, enthusiasm, and fun packed into two days. This is the way to learn!
Philip M. Sadler, Ed.D.
F.W. Wright Senior Lecturer in Celestial Navigation
Harvard University Astronomy Department
Cambridge, MA
Modern Celestial Navigation
Winter / Spring 2026:
A fast-paced introduction to celestial navigation from a 21st century perspective employing streamlined, practical, modern methods.
We cover Sun sights in detail, correcting sights for dip, refraction, and other details to determine a "position fix" in latitude and longitude. We'll use efficient, modern Sun data from the "guidebook" which you will receive as part of this workshop. We'll learn about the diurnal motions of the Sun and stars in different latitudes and seasons.
With everything you learn in this class and complete tables you will receive in class, you could navigate the oceans by sextant the very next day. This workshop covers the principle, use, and adjustment of modern sextants. You'll learn how to calibrate any sextant in just a few minutes to bring it to perfect working order.
Advanced Celestial: Position Fixes & Star Sights is recommended as a follow-up.
All workshops: $ 149 per person, per workshop- Register Oct 10,11: online.
Created 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.
- You'll need to purchase the recommended scientific calculator for the class: the Casio fx-260 Solar (original or newer "II" model). These are widely available for less than $15 at Walmart, Staples, and other stores.
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:
Philip M. Sadler wrote: 85👍
Lucinda Fleeson wrote: 26👍
"Celestial Navigation in the Age of Sail" was exactly what I was looking for to familiarize myself with historical marine navigation. Frank is an engaging instructor who weaved the story of a 19th century whaling voyage into hands-on practical calculations. He started by unveiling an incomprehensible historical document filled with numbers and promised that by the end of the course we could decode the figures. He's developed a step-by-step teaching method that is a marvel to watch and experience.
I must admit I dreaded two, back-to-back, 5-hour days, but the time sailed by. (Sorry can't resist.) Thank you.
He also included some 17th century data that I needed. I'm neither a mathematician nor a sailer, but a journalist and author.
I must admit I dreaded two, back-to-back, 5-hour days, but the time sailed by. (Sorry can't resist.) Thank you.
He also included some 17th century data that I needed. I'm neither a mathematician nor a sailer, but a journalist and author.
Dr. Stanley J. Zawada & Ilona M. Kovacs wrote: 6👍
If we could leave 5 stars, we'd leave 10 ! We have attended several courses and enjoyed each one! Mr. Frank Reed is as entertaining as is his complete mastery of the subjects he teaches. The level of preparedness shines like the stars he so loves. We thank you for the most excellent courses we have had the ultimate pleasure to experience.
