Anyone is invited to contribute to this project, either by supplying sight reduction algorithm-related material, including improvements of the existing code.
Actual sights are also welcome, in addition to the samples provided.
I have started a discussion forum where anyone is invited to discuss anything related to celestial navigation.
Regarding future plans for this project. These are some things I may consider doing (or have already started)
- Building on WGS-84 ellipsoid model.
Working on this right now. Sight reductions seems to work well but mapping does not work yet - Better mapping functions.
Currently using the MapDevelopers circle functions (web-based). Considering building functionality on GeoPandas or similar framework. - Create machine-readable Nautical Almanac
- Create a lightweight web application and/or mobile app.
A collection of simple Jupyter notebooks have been added, and this may be good enough for practical work. There are however bugs in current Jupyter implementations on Android. - Diagnostic output for describing the underlying maths.
(Mainly for the notebooks)
Working on this right now - More elaborate sextant calibration code.
- Code for Lunar Distance measurements.
But the design goal is portability and a small footprint, with no dependency on an internet connection. Keeping it runnable in a lightweigth Python environment is desirable, with the mobile phone as the natural choice of hardware.
Any contributions are welcome!