Quest for longitude from "summary" of Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time by Dava Sobel
The search for a solution to the problem of determining longitude at sea consumed the minds of many in the 18th century. Ships depended on accurate knowledge of their longitude to navigate safely across vast oceans. The lack of a reliable method for determining longitude led to countless shipwrecks and loss of life. The British government offered a substantial reward to anyone who could devise a method for accurately determining longitude. John Harrison, a self-taught clockmaker, dedicated his life to solving the problem of longitude. He believed that the key to accurately determining longitude lay in creating a clock that could keep precise time at sea. Harrison faced numerous challenges in his quest, including the skepticism of established astronomers and the limitations of technol...Similar Posts
His passion for learning fueled his artistic and scientific pursuits, shaping his diverse body of work
Leonardo da Vinci's insatiable thirst for knowledge played a vital role in driving his artistic and scientific endeavors. His r...
The explorer's resilience and resourcefulness helped him overcome obstacles
Marco Polo's remarkable journey was marked by numerous challenges and obstacles that tested his resilience and resourcefulness....
The search for longitude reshaped our understanding of time
The quest to determine longitude at sea consumed the world's finest minds for centuries. It was a monumental challenge that req...
Harrison's lifelong dedication
Harrison's lifelong dedication to solving the problem of longitude at sea was unwavering. From a young age, he showed a keen in...
The search for a solution spanned centuries
The quest to determine longitude at sea consumed the energies of scientists, astronomers, and navigators for centuries. The pro...
Their task was to create a standard unit of measurement based on the Earth's size
The challenge presented to these two men was a formidable one - to establish a precise unit of measure that could be universall...
Kepler discovered the laws of planetary motion
Johannes Kepler was a German astronomer who made significant contributions to our understanding of the motion of planets. In th...