Timekeeping proved to be the key to determining longitude from "summary" of Longitude by Dava Sobel
Longitude at sea had always been the elusive prize, the Holy Grail of navigation. Sailors could easily find their latitude by measuring the angle between the horizon and the North Star. However, the longitude remained a mystery, as it required knowing the time difference between the ship's location and a known reference point, such as the Prime Meridian in Greenwich, England. For centuries, astronomers and scientists struggled to develop a method to accurately determine longitude. Many ideas were proposed, from observing celestial events to measuring the distance between the moon and the stars. However, all these methods proved to be impractical, inaccurate, or unreliable. It wasn't until the clockmaker John Harrison came along that a solution to the longitude problem seemed within reach. Harrison believed that the key to determining longitude lay in accurate timekeeping. By creating a clock that could keep precise time at sea despite the rocking and rolling of the ship, sailors could compare the local time with the time at the reference point and calculate their longitude. Harrison's first marine chronometer, H1, was a revolutionary invention that promised to change the course of navigation forever. Despite facing skepticism and resistance from the scientific community, Harrison continued to refine his clocks, eventually producing the H4, a compact and reliable timepiece that could withstand the rigors of a sea voyage. The success of Harrison's marine chronometers marked a turning point in the history of navigation. Sailors no longer had to rely on guesswork or luck to determine their longitude. With a reliable timepiece on board, they could confidently sail the high seas and accurately chart their course. Timekeeping proved to be the key to solving the longitude problem, transforming navigation from an art into a science. Thanks to John Harrison's ingenuity and perseverance, sailors could finally conquer the vast oceans and explore the world with confidence and precision.
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