Longitudinal accuracy was crucial for safe navigation at sea from "summary" of Longitude by Dava Sobel
Longitudinal accuracy, or knowing one's east-west position at sea, was a matter of life and death for sailors navigating the vast and treacherous oceans. Without an accurate measure of longitude, ships risked running aground on hidden reefs or being lost at sea without any hope of finding their way back to land. The stakes were high, as a small miscalculation could lead to disaster. For centuries, sailors relied on celestial navigation to determine their longitude, using the positions of the stars and planets to estimate their location. However, this method was fraught with challenges, as it required clear skies and a high level of skill from the navigator. Even the most experienced seafarers struggled to maintain accuracy over long distances, leading to numerous shipwrecks and lost lives. The need for a more reliable method of determining longitude became increasingly urgent as global trade expanded and more ships ventured into unknown waters. Governments and maritime organizations offered substantial rewards for anyone who could solve the "longitude problem" and create a practical solution for sailors to use at sea. The quest for a reliable method of determining longitude led to the development of the marine chronometer, a precision timekeeping device that could accurately measure time at sea. By comparing the local time on board with the time at a known location, sailors could calculate their longitudinal position with great accuracy. This innovation revolutionized navigation and made long-distance sea travel safer and more efficient. The marine chronometer was a game-changer for sailors, providing them with a reliable and easy-to-use tool for determining longitude. With this new technology, sailors no longer had to rely solely on celestial navigation or guesswork to find their way across the oceans. The ability to accurately measure longitude transformed the maritime world and paved the way for safer and more reliable navigation at sea.
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