
From the G&N Dictionary used extensively for training in the Lunar Module simulator.
Using a sextant, like ship mariners of yore, the astronauts would align overlaid images of the Earth’s horizon line and two known stars (the stars remain in fixed positions once the observer is free of Earth’s rotation). They would punch the star number into the DSKY once they had a sighting, and the computer could calculate their exact position in space.
They had 37 stars stored in the magnetic rope memory of the guidance computer. Some of them are faint and obscure because they needed coverage across the sky, not just the brightest stars wherever they may be.
There are three stars here that you should not find on other star charts. Gus Grissom was involved with the early planning and production of the Apollo star charts. When they were deciding on which stars to number and name, he made up names for three of the fainter stars in tribute to his fellow Apollo 1 crewmembers. Star number 3 was called “Navi” which is his own middle name Ivan spelled backwards. Star number 17 was named “Regor” which is Roger (Chaffee) spelled backwards. Star number 20 was “Dnoces” which is Second (Ed White II) spelled backwards. After the tragic deaths of this crew in a training accident, NASA decided to leave these names on the future charts as a tribute.





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