USCG Nav. Astronomy Trial info

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Navigational Astronomy Exam is a part of the requirements for mariners who are seeking certification as an Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch (OICNW) or Master or Mate on vessels of a certain size. This exam assesses a mariner’s knowledge and proficiency in celestial navigation, which is the practice of determining a ship’s position using celestial bodies like the sun, moon, stars, and planets. Celestial navigation is a crucial skill for mariners, especially when electronic navigation systems fail or are unavailable.

Here are some key points to understand about the USCG Navigational Astronomy Exam:

1. Eligibility: To take the Navigational Astronomy Exam, you must meet certain eligibility requirements, which typically include having completed a U.S. Coast Guard-approved navigation training program or having equivalent sea service experience.

2. Content: The exam covers various topics related to celestial navigation, including:

– Identifying celestial bodies and their characteristics.

– Using sextants to measure angles between celestial bodies and the horizon.

– Calculating a ship’s position using celestial observations and the nautical almanac.

– Determining the ship’s compass error and deviation.

– Performing sight reductions and calculations for position fixes.

– Timekeeping and the use of chronometers.

Exam trial is divided into 7 parts, each of which has more than 35 questions

Application features :

– Includes charts and diagrams that can be zoomed in/out to make it easier to answer related questions

– Multiple-choice exercise

– There are 2 hints (Hint or Knowledge, Add TIME for answering), that can be used

– More than 35 questions in topic which in turn appear in 10 questions