This document compares hand-held celestial navigation calculators that are more-or-less readily available today. These devices perform most celestial navigation computations as well as solve many other general navigation tasks. Indeed, several of them are as sophisticated as most PC programs now available for comparable computations.

Links are provided to the primary sources of the products when available. You can get more specific information from these primary sources.

This is not a historic document. We do not include the wonderful predecessors to these that are no longer available or are outdated such as the pioneering NC-77 from Tamaya [this link includes ways to update the NC77 almanac which expired in 2000] and the original HP NavPak products which were popular with the HP-65 and 41-CV series. The Merlin II, on the other hand, is included in the comparison since it is indeed still on the market in Australia and it was one of the leading pioneers in this field — it set the standard in efficient programing and ease of use. The state of the art as of 1988 was reviewed by Practical Sailor in two issues, Jan and Feb, 1988.

Additions and corrections would be appreciated. Please send to helpdesk@starpath.com.

Some parts are not complete. Unknown data are left blank or marked ???. Recent changes are the NC2000 has been replaced with the NC2100 and Celesticomp is only available in rebrubished calculators, and it seems the celesticomp.com link has been lost..