Great site for learning more than just the math and distance of navigation. This site offers histories as well. It is tastefully illustrated with many, many links along the side to different types of navigational information such as: early developments in navigation, electronic navigation, celestial navigation, celestial navigation at sea, course heading and tracking, lights and buoys, underwater navigation, and even a guide to the instruments of navigation. References the 1996 Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. Last updated in December 2001.

From the site: "This pathfinder is designed to act as a starting point for finding information about maps and actual copies of maps. There are many different uses for maps and, hence, there are many different types of maps. Internet resources for maps include details of the physical and political layout of almost every corner of the earth, as well as maps that show human characteristics of the land, such as agricultural, growth rate, and pollution maps. There are also Internet sources that use on-line maps to determine directions or exact locations for places based on user input." It's basically a whole pathfinder all about maps and map collections available online! And it's totally free! A very good place to start when exploring map options online.

This site is sponsored by the National Imagery and Mapping Agency. The whole site is very interesting and fun to look at, but the part that's bookmarked here focuses on safety of navigation. There are many links to sites that can connect you to navigational safety databases and image banks. As soon as these maps are printed and distributed to libraries and stores they are out of date. Always check with the website for the most up-to-date nautical charts.

This site is sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration which "is a component of the National Ocean Service which is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, (NOAA). Coast Survey has a long history as the oldest scientific organization in the United States, having its foundation as far back as 1807. Today the Office of Coast Survey is known for the useful and necessary navigational products which are required for the safe and efficient maritime commerce in and out of our Nation's ports." You can link up to a variety of different kinds of useful maps: electronic navigational charts, bathy/topo/shoreline maps, and print on demand nautical charts.

Software you can download to keep track of the stars even when it's light out. This almanac software is designed for general use as well as specific utilization by maritime navigators and by astronomers. The latest "Astro version 1.11", released in September of 2000, includes: cosmetic changes to ensure smooth running in a 'window' (later versions of Microsoft windows and correction of error produced if a star was selected immediately after a position change (one time only).

Start by sailing around the Pacific Northwest. Try these local trips. This site is a great resource for getting connected to information about local ports and marinas, gear, governing bodies, local races and sailing organizations, as well as links to different schools. The maps of Northwest sailing routes are good, but don't forget to check out the rest of the site as well. It is extremely detailed and well-organized.

Site sponsored by the Starpath School of Navigation. They offer classes, resources, rules, online tutorials, and downloads. The site is well-developed and very easy to navigate. It's divided into 6 different sections: celestial navigation, inland and coastal navigation, radar, marine weather, navigation rules, and emergency navigation.

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This is a simple and useful page that gives the name, constellation, ascension, declination, magnitude, and spectral class of major navigation stars. Simple and informative.

The navigational charts produced by the national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) have been used by the recreation and commercial boating communities; however, charts, especially in a digital form, can provide important base data to a much wider audience. These charts, displayed as images, can provide a useful background layer for ocean and coastal geographic information system (GIS) projects. A problem for the GIS community has been that the current BSB format was not widely supported by mapping software vendors. Maptech, Inc. has an exclusive agreement to distribute NOAA charts in the proprietary BSB format, under a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA).

The map collection in Suzzallo Library has been designated by the Washington State Library as the state regional map depository and receives all maps and digital mapping products issued through the U.S. Geological Survey and the Government Printing Office. As a depository library, the map collection is required to provide access to U.S. government maps and mapping data. Check them out to get familiar with nautical charts and maps from around the world.

A plain English explanation of celestial navigation that any beginner boater can understand. The tape includes a review of coastal piloting technique and then goes on to show the similarities between coastal piloting and celestial navigation. It covers theory and applications. The tape also a surprise ending that shows how to change the cover of the video to promote you past the "idiot" stage of navigator. The website describes a bit more of the tape's content. Unfortunately, not found at any local libraries but can be ordered online.