An Attachment to a Celestial Globe for Facilitating Stellar Navigation.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Sept., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 29th June, 1897--Accepted, 7th Aug., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Attachment to a Celestial Globe for Facilitating Stellar
Navigation.
I VINCENT JOHN ENGLISH, of No. 23, Warwick Street, Regent Street, in the
County of Middlesex, Retired Lieutenant Royal Navy, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists of a circular ring of metal or other material to rest on and
move freely round the horizon of any ordinary celestial globe, which horizon has
the compass bearings marked upon it. To this ring are firmly attached four
quadrants of metal, or other material which are joined together above the centre of
any such celestial globe. These quadrants, all or any one of them, are divided into
ninety degrees.
Dated this 29th day of September 1896.
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Attachment to a Celestial Globe for Facilitating Stellar
Navigation.
VINCENT JOHN ENGLISH, of No. 23, Warwick Street, Regent Street, in the County
of Middlesex, Retired Lieutenant, Royal Navy, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention consists of a circular ring of metal or other material to rest on and
move freely round the horizon of any ordinary celestial globe, which horizon has
the compass bearings marked upon it. To this ring are firmly attached four
quadrants of metal or other material which are joined together above the centre of
any such celestial globe. These quadrants all or any one of them are divided into
ninety degrees.
By the use of my invention stellar navigation is much facilitated, the altitude and
bearing of any star or celestial body seen being readily and easily found. The time
of the meridian passage of any heavenly body is obtained with facility and in
great circle sailing the invention will be found useful and of advantage as well as
in solving double chronometer problems.
And in order that this my invention may be fully understood I will now describe
same with reference to the accompanying drawings and letters and figures of
reference marked thereon, that is to say:
Fig. 1 is a view in plan of a celestial globe fitted with my improvements and
constructed and arranged in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a front
elevational view of same: Fig. 3 an clevational view of the altitude delineating

page_text: device shewn separate and apart from the globe: and Fig. 4 is a section through
line A B Fig. 1. Similar figures and letters of reference indicate like parts in each
of the views:
Upon the globe itself are marked the positions of the various stars, as an illustra-
tion the following bodies are given and indicated by reference letters upon the
drawings, though in practice the various constellations would of course be much
more fully and elaborately set out:
a represents the position occupied upon the globe by the star "Regulus."
evice
ewn separa
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globe: au Fig. 4 is a section through
line A B Fig. 1. Similar figures and letters of referonce indicate like parts in each
of the views:
Upon the globe itself are marked the positions of the various stars, as an illustra
tion the following bodies are given and indicated by reference letters upon the
drawings, though in practice the various constellations would of course be much
more fully and elaborately set out:
a represents the position occupied upon the globe by the star "Regulus."
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B Leonis
a Hydra.
Sirius.
ban Maj.
a Orionis.
Rigel.
Pollux.
Castor.
Argus.
Virginis.
Сапория.
ẞ Corir.
Andromeda.
a Ceti.
Aldeberan.
Cyqui.
Leporis.
B Laun.
In carrying my invention into effect I mount the globe or sphere within an
ordinary brass or other meridian 1 graduated into degrees of latitudo the bearings 2
of the globe being at its polar ends as is usual.
The globe so mounted is carried or supported in a stand or box 3 suitable guides 4
being provided between which the meridian 1 is free to turn so that the sphere or
globe may be adjusted as to latitude within the horizon plate or ring 5 (or azimuth
circle) marked with the points of the compass and encircling the globe. The
altitude delineator or indicator used in conjunction with the globe as illustrated in
the various figures of the accompanying drawings consists of a ring 6 of metal or
other suitable material carrying 2 semi-circular or arched plates or quadrants 7-7
bisecting one another centrally as at 8 and placed at exactly right angles one with
another. A greater number of these semi-circular or arched plates or quadrants
may be employed if desired but for all practical purposes the two will be found
sufficient.
For convenience of manipulation the knob or button 9 may be placed at the
zenith or point of intersection of the arched plates or arms 7 which latter are
graduated into degrees for the purpose of indicating the altitude of any given
heavenly body marked upon the globe. It is obvions that in constructing the
altitude delineator or indicator the graduated arms or plates may be made in
separato segments each fitting into the common central knob or button 9, (or any
other convenient construction, giving the semi-circles or quadrants at right angles
one with another) may be made use of.
To obtain the altitude and bearing of a given star at a given latitude say for
instance "Castor" marked in the drawing and latitude 51 N. Then the
meridian 1 is turned in its guide bearings 4 (and with it the globe) until the required
degree of latitude (viz. 51) marked upon the meridian scale is exactly under the
zenith; then the globe is turned upon its bearings or polar axes 2 until the star
"Castor" is immediately beneath the meridian 1. The altitude circles are then
turned round until one of its quadrants 7 is, directly over the meridian 1 and the
altitude of said star is indicated by the degree exactly over same marked upon the
graduated scale of degrees on the altitude circle. The equinoxial circle is marked

page_text: as shewn with the hours of sidereal time to obtain which the right ascension of mean
sun given in nautical almanack for the day and time is added to the mean time at
ship or place when desired to find altitude and bearing, thus, suppose time ship is
7 p.m. and right ascension of mean sun is 13 hours the sidereal time will be 20 hours
(the sun) if however this sum exceeds 24 hours the 24 hours must be deducted from
the sum so obtained to give the sidereal time. For example if the globe be set to
20 hours (marked on equinoxial line) that is bring said mark of 20 hours under the
meridian we should find Aquila on the meridian of the place which would have an
altitudo of about 38°.
Viga would be shewn having an altitude of 70° and bearing SW by W
Arctumo with altitude of about 17° and bearing W by N and so on.
W and
To ascertain time of meridian passage of any heavenly body say for instance it is
desired to know the time Rigel will rise set the globe to the latitude and turn it so
that Rigel is on the Eastern horizon.
Sidereal time will be found to be 23 hours from which deduct right ascension of
mean sun (given in nautical almanack) and the time of rising is given and the
bearing will be seen to be ES. The same body will set at sidereal time
11 hours 20 mins., and then bear WS.
For great circle sailing suppose it be required to find the arc of a great circle
joining two places on the terrestial globo for example one which we will call X at
lat. 10° N long. 15° E and another we will call Y at lat. 40° N and long. 90° W
the difference of longitude is 105° which = 7 hours in time. Then turn globe to
24 hours sidereal time and under 10° declination N mark position of X. Turn globe
to 17 hours (the difference) sidereal time under the meridian and place the mark
under 40° the position of Y. Turn altitude circles so as to cover or join the two
positions in a straight line then the line under the altitude circle is the great circle
required. Y is under 57° altitude i.e. 33° from the zenith and X is under 34° of
altitude or 56° from the zenith distance therefore from X to Y is 56° +33° = 89°
or X 60 distance in nautical miles. The course on any part of this circle can be
measured with a protractor and the highest declination under the circle thus traced
will be the latitudinal vertex required about 43°.
For double chronometer problems the positions of stars whose bearings are at
right angles to one another is at once indicated. Thus if when sidereal time is
8 hours it will be seen at a glance that the very bright stars "Capella" and "Sirius"
are in the best positions, and on the other side "Regulus" is also in a good position
for such an observation.
The above examples will fully illustrate the uses and advantages of this my
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The attachment to a celestial globe substantially as herein before described
and shewn for the purpose of facilitating stellar navigation.
2. In celestial globes the application and combination therewith of the movable
altitude circles, constructed and operating substantially as and for the purposes
herein before described and shewn.
3. The application of the movable altitude circles constructed and operating
substantially as herein before described for the purpose of great circle sailing all as
herein set forth.
Dated this 20th
1005
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.