Montauk - David Cory, President of the Board of Directors of the Sag Harbor Whaling and Historical Museum, will talk on "Celestial Navigation," at 7:30 p.m. at the Montauk Public School on Sept. 6, located at 50 South Dorset Drive in Montauk. He is also a former ship captain in the Merchant Marines.

Cory was born and raised in New York City, and he graduated from SUNY Maritime at Fort Schuyler, in the Bronx. He spent 35 years working for United States Lines steamship company, first as a third mate, and then working his way up to captain. Throughout these years, he ran cargo ships around the world, until he decided to retire from the ships in 1985 to raise his son in Sag Harbor, where he moved in 1979. He worked in real estate for 11 years, at Robertson Realty, and became involved in local organizations, including the Sag Harbor Whaling Museum and the Old Whaler's Church in Sag Harbor, where he is on the Historical Committee.

Cory's knowledge of celestial navigation was learned throughout his long career with United States Lines steamship company.

"When I retired from the United States Lines, "they still weren't using GPS navigation - we used celestial navigation back then," he explained. "When I first went out to sea, we didn't even have Lorans."

At his free lecture on Sept. 6, Cory will give a brief history of celestial navigation and explain the principles of how to be guided by the sun, moon, stars and planets. He will also demonstrate a few instruments, including the sextant. The public is invited to this fascinating talk.

Following the lecture, all are invited to observe the stars and planets at a Star Watching Party at Third House, in Theodore Roosevelt County Park, off Route 27. This will be held at about 9 p.m., weather permitting.

The Montauk Observatory, Inc. is a non-profit, educational program free to the public, which will hold events year-round in Montauk. For details, check their website at www.montaukobservatory.com.