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 org...
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