In Our Time Longitude
May 13, 2021
Join Rebekah Higgitt, Principal Curator of Science at National Museums Scotland, Jim Bennett, Keeper Emeritus at the Science Museum, and Simon Schaffer, Professor at the University of Cambridge, as they delve into the breathtaking quest for determining longitude at sea. Discover how visionary clockmaker John Harrison revolutionized navigation with his chronometers. Explore the collaborative efforts of scientists and mariners that shaped navigation history and the crucial milestones that enabled safe maritime exploration. A riveting look into human ingenuity!
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Longitude Problem History
- Mariners have faced the longitude problem since the medieval period.
- Longer voyages made determining east-west positions increasingly critical, especially during the Age of Exploration.
Longitude Workarounds
- European mariners used workarounds like "longitude by account".
- They estimated speed with knots, direction with compasses, and time with sandglasses to calculate longitude.
Land vs. Sea Longitude
- Land-based longitude calculations were easier due to landmarks and stable observing conditions.
- Pendulum clocks and celestial observations aided land-based measurements, unlike at sea.