Navigation by the Stars
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Which is of the Longitude and Declination of 32 notable fixed stars for Navigation, with tables of their shining, and at what point of the compass they do both rise and set; with tables for every month of the year, for mariners out from Seagate Port.
The Uses of the Stars
It is convenient for diverse reasons to show the Longitude and Declination of certain of the most notable fixed Stars that lie between the Tropic Circles, which are very necessary for Navigation in diverse respects, as if you are far to the North, where the North Pole is raised more than 50 degrees, then the North Star is too high to be observed or taken with the cross staff, and it is not uncommon (particularly to the North) that the sun is not to be seen exactly at Noon, and then any of these Stars may serve in their turn. And furthermore, they are very good for those who have occasion to sail beyond the Equinoctial, where the North Star is always under the Horizon, to be used for knowing the declination as also described in earlier chapters, again with the Sun often being obscured for days in the southern oceans. And furthermore, they are very useful for Seafarers to know the passing of the hours of the night, both by their position on the Meridian, and by their rising and setting; you may know the true time of their rising and setting in every Latitude by their declination North or South from the Equinoctial, as is explained in an earlier chapter on the declination of the Sun. And furthermore by any of these Stars, you may measure the variation of your compass by night.
The Notable Tropical Stars
And in the list of notable fixed Stars that lie between the Tropic Circles we list the sign of the Zodiac that each falls within, the Longitude of the Star within that Sign, their Declination from the Equinoctial, their Magnitude or Brightness when observed, and at what point of the compass the star rises and set when seen from Seagate, along with the time it shines, in all seasons. But if you desire to know the length of time that any of these stars is above the horizon or where it sets or rises in Latitudes other than Seagate, then refer to earlier chapters, as you may know this by their declinations, even as you know the length of the day, and the bearings for sunrise and sun set by the Sun's declination.
The 32 most notable Tropical Stars
- Finding these Tropical Stars
| Star Name | Zodiac Sign | Longitude | Declination | Magnitude | Brightness | Rises | Sets | Visible for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Hammer | Smith | 7° 02' | 4° 23' N | 3 | Third Magnitude | 84° 30' | 275° 30' | 12 hours 26 minutes |
| Horseshoe | Smith | 19° 16' | 17° 34' S | 1 | A Great Star | 112° 10' | 247° 50' | 10 hours 9 minutes |
| The Knife | Thief | 5° 02' | 1° 40' N | 2 | Second Magnitude | 87° 50' | 272° 10' | 12 hours 10 minutes |
| Thief's Purse | Thief | 14° 06' | 4° 52' S | 3 | Third Magnitude | 96° 10' | 263° 50' | 11 hours 30 minutes |
| Thief's Mask | Thief | 21° 27' | 20° 16' N | 3 | Third Magnitude | 64° 20' | 295° 40' | 14 hours 9 minutes |
| Lover's Foot | Lover | 9° 09' | 23° 55' S | 2 | Second Magnitude | 120° 30' | 239° 30' | 9 hours 23 minutes |
| The Rose | Lover | 19° 51' | 16° 56' N | 1 | A Great Red Star | 68° 40' | 291° 20' | 13 hours 46 minutes |
| Shield Boss | Warrior | 0° 34' | 4° 35' N | 2 | Second Magnitude | 84° 20' | 275° 40' | 12 hours 27 minutes |
| Spear Butt | Warrior | 13° 59' | 14° 17' S | 3 | Third Magnitude | 108° 00' | 252° 00' | 10 hours 31 minutes |
| The Crown | King | 3° 47' | 20° 13' N | 2 | Second Magnitude | 64° 20' | 295° 40' | 14 hours 8 minutes |
| Sceptre Base | King | 11° 48' | 11° 41' S | 3 | Third Magnitude | 104° 40' | 255° 20' | 10 hours 48 minutes |
| The Orb | King | 18° 46' | 2° 31' N | 0 | A Very Great Star | 86° 50' | 273° 10' | 12 hours 15 minutes |
| Spinning Wheel | Mother | 12° 14' | 18° 29' S | 3 | Third Magnitude | 113° 20' | 246° 40' | 10 hours 3 minutes |
| The Awl | Mother | 21° 57' | 6° 44' N | 1 | A Great Star | 81° 30' | 278° 30' | 12 hours 40 minutes |
| The Wand | Magician | 7° 04' | 13° 45' N | 1 | A Great Blue Star | 72° 40' | 287° 20' | 13 hours 25 minutes |
| Robe Hem | Magician | 19° 34' | 13° 32' S | 3 | Third Magnitude | 107° 00' | 253° 00' | 10 hours 36 minutes |
| Wolf Paw | Wolf | 1° 58' | 22° 56' S | 2 | Second Magnitude | 119° 10' | 240° 50' | 9 hours 31 minutes |
| Dog's Balls | Wolf | 12° 44' | 17° 13' S | 3 | Third Magnitude | 111° 50' | 248° 10' | 10 hours 11 minutes |
| Lost Hope | Void | 12° 51' | 2° 22' S | 4 | Fourth Magnitude | 93° 00' | 267° 00' | 11 hours 45 minutes |
| Scythe Head | Reaper | 3° 45' | 15° 00' N | 1 | A Great Star | 71° 10' | 288° 50' | 13 hours 33 minutes |
| Scythe Butt | Reaper | 11° 59' | 9° 43' S | 2 | Second Magnitude | 102° 10' | 257° 50' | 11 hours 0 minutes |
| Scythe Tip | Reaper | 23° 44' | 23° 43' N | 0 | A Very Great Star | 59° 40' | 300° 20' | 14 hours 34 minutes |
| Pig Bladder | Fool | 7° 48' | 10° 28' N | 3 | Third Magnitude | 76° 50' | 283° 10' | 13 hours 4 minutes |
| Fool's Belly | Fool | 21° 01' | 4° 46' N | 1 | A Great Star | 84° 00' | 276° 00' | 12 hours 28 minutes |
| Wheat Bushel | Farmer | 2° 55' | 16° 52' S | 3 | Third Magnitude | 111° 20' | 248° 40' | 10 hours 14 minutes |
| Farmers Eye | Farmer | 14° 02' | 20° 44' N | 2 | Second Magnitude | 63° 40' | 296° 20' | 14 hours 12 minutes |
| Sickle | Farmer | 22° 42' | 13° 36' N | 1 | A Great Star | 72° 50' | 287° 10' | 13 hours 24 minutes |
| The Garter | Maiden | 5° 36' | 11° 44' S | 2 | Second Magnitude | 104° 50' | 255° 10' | 10 hours 47 minutes |
| Maid's Ankle | Maiden | 17° 02' | 21° 07' S | 2 | Second Magnitude | 116° 50' | 243° 10' | 9 hours 44 minutes |
| Messenger's Head | Messenger | 0° 44' | 20° 00' N | 2 | Second Magnitude | 64° 40' | 295° 20' | 14 hours 7 minutes |
| The Baton | Messenger | 9° 15' | 4° 14' S | 3 | Third Magnitude | 95° 20' | 264° 40' | 11 hours 34 minutes |
| The Scroll | Messenger | 18° 55' | 6° 34' N | 2 | Second Magnitude | 81° 50' | 278° 10' | 12 hours 39 minutes |
The Stars at their Meridian
Now for all days of any month of the year, it is very necessary to know the time that a star is to be found touching your Meridian, being due South (or North, for distant explorers), as this serves Mariners well to take their height with their instruments, or to know the time as it passes through the night. And knowing their Meridial time and the number of hours that they shine, then as shown in earlier chapters, you may know when they rise and set, this being exactly half the time they are visible either removed from or added to their Meridial time. And as it is known for every star that is above the Horizon at night the exact times that it rises, reaches its Zenith, and sets, so no Mariner should ever be uncertain of the time, being that they can see one of Eastwards, Westwards or directly overhead.
Now this table does not list every day, this being too many tables and charts for any Mariner to carry, but only the Meridial times for the four High Holidays. And to know the time for other days, remove 4 minutes from the time for each day of the Season. That doing, you shall know the rising, setting and Zenith times of these 32 Tropical stars on any day, at any Latitude.
- Meridial Times for the Tropical Stars
| Star Name | Beltane | Lugnasad | Samhain | C~mansa |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Hammer | 12:54 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. | 12:54 a.m. | 6:54 p.m. |
| Horseshoe | 1:43 p.m. | 7:43 a.m. | 1:43 a.m. | 7:43 p.m. |
| The Knife | 2:28 p.m. | 8:28 a.m. | 2:28 a.m. | 8:28 p.m. |
| Thief's Purse | 3:05 p.m. | 9:05 a.m. | 3:05 a.m. | 9:05 p.m. |
| Thief's Mask | 3:34 p.m. | 9:34 a.m. | 3:34 a.m. | 9:34 p.m. |
| Lover's Foot | 4:28 p.m. | 10:28 a.m. | 4:28 a.m. | 10:28 p.m. |
| The Rose | 5:11 p.m. | 11:11 a.m. | 5:11 a.m. | 11:11 p.m. |
| Shield Boss | 5:36 p.m. | 11:36 a.m. | 5:36 a.m. | 11:36 p.m. |
| Spear Butt | 6:30 p.m. | 12:30 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. | 12:30 a.m. |
| The Crown | 7:32 p.m. | 1:32 p.m. | 7:32 a.m. | 1:32 a.m. |
| Sceptre Base | 8:04 p.m. | 2:04 p.m. | 8:04 a.m. | 2:04 a.m. |
| The Orb | 8:32 p.m. | 2:32 p.m. | 8:32 a.m. | 2:32 a.m. |
| Spinning Wheel | 9:49 p.m. | 3:49 p.m. | 9:49 a.m. | 3:49 a.m. |
| The Awl | 10:28 p.m. | 4:28 p.m. | 10:28 a.m. | 4:28 a.m. |
| The Wand | 11:11 p.m. | 5:11 p.m. | 11:11 a.m. | 5:11 a.m. |
| Robe Hem | 12:01 a.m. | 6:01 p.m. | 12:01 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. |
| Wolf Paw | 12:33 a.m. | 6:33 p.m. | 12:33 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. |
| Dog's Balls | 1:16 a.m. | 7:16 p.m. | 1:16 p.m. | 7:16 a.m. |
| Lost Hope | 3:00 a.m. | 9:00 p.m. | 3:00 p.m. | 9:00 a.m. |
| Scythe Head | 4:06 a.m. | 10:06 p.m. | 4:06 p.m. | 10:06 a.m. |
| Scythe Butt | 4:39 a.m. | 10:39 p.m. | 4:39 p.m. | 10:39 a.m. |
| Scythe Tip | 5:26 a.m. | 11:26 p.m. | 5:26 p.m. | 11:26 a.m. |
| Pig Bladder | 6:05 a.m. | 12:05 a.m. | 6:05 p.m. | 12:05 p.m. |
| Fool's Belly | 6:58 a.m. | 12:58 a.m. | 6:58 p.m. | 12:58 p.m. |
| Wheat Bushel | 7:29 a.m. | 1:29 a.m. | 7:29 p.m. | 1:29 p.m. |
| Farmers Eye | 8:13 a.m. | 2:13 a.m. | 8:13 p.m. | 2:13 p.m. |
| Sickle | 8:48 a.m. | 2:48 a.m. | 8:48 p.m. | 2:48 p.m. |
| The Garter | 9:22 a.m. | 3:22 a.m. | 9:22 p.m. | 3:22 p.m. |
| Maid's Ankle | 10:08 a.m. | 4:08 a.m. | 10:08 p.m. | 4:08 p.m. |
| Messenger's Head | 10:46 a.m. | 4:46 a.m. | 10:46 p.m. | 4:46 p.m. |
| The Baton | 11:20 a.m. | 5:20 a.m. | 11:20 p.m. | 5:20 p.m. |
| The Scroll | 11:58 a.m. | 5:58 a.m. | 11:58 p.m. | 5:58 p.m. |
