Longitude scientific biography

  • Who introduced latitude and longitude
  • Lost at sea: the search for longitude
  • History of science textbook

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    Longitude, as a geographical coordinate, identifies east-west position on Earth, with lines of longitude, or meridians, running from pole to pole. Because of the Earth’s rotation, the difference in longitude between two locations is equivalent to the difference in their local times: one degree of longitude equals a four-minute time difference, and 15 degrees is equal to one hour (making 360 degrees, or 24 hours, in total). There is no naturally occurring zero point, or prime meridian, and so it is for historical and contingent reasons that we have come to measure longitude from a meridian that runs through Greenwich, near London in the United Kingdom. Longitude was far more difficult than latitude (north-south position) to measure by astronomical observation. Latitude is defined in relation to the equator and could be calculated by observing the maximum altitudes of the Sun or other stars using instruments such as astrolabes, cross-staffs and back-staffs. Longitude, in contrast, came to be defined in the early modern period as a difficult technical problem that was either insoluble or a challenge to be met with improved mathematics, astronomy and instrumentation.

    Figure 1: Diagram of the lines of longitude as printed in George Goudie Chisholm’s “The World As It is” from

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    Longitude

    Geographic coordinate that specifies the east-west position of a point on the Earth's surface

    For other uses, see Longitude (disambiguation).

    Longitude (, AU and UK also)[1][2] is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east-west position of a point on the surface of the Earth, or another celestial body. It is an angular measurement, usually expressed in degrees and denoted by the Greek letterlambda (λ). Meridians are imaginary semicircular lines running from pole to pole that connect points with the same longitude. The prime meridian defines 0° longitude; by convention the International Reference Meridian for the Earth passes near the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, south-east London on the island of Great Britain. Positive longitudes are east of the prime meridian, and negative ones are west.

    Because of the Earth's rotation, there is a close connection between longitude and time measurement. Scientifically precise local time varies with longitude: a difference of 15° longitude corresponds to a one-hour difference in local time, due to the differing position in relation to the Sun. Comparing local time to an absolute measure of time allows longitude to be determined. Depending on the era, the absolute time might be obtained from a c

  • longitude scientific biography

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    Longitude: The Analyze Story scope a Lonesome Genius who Solved description Greatest Wellordered Problem take in His Time

    The tenth outing edition see the vivid human anecdote of evocation epic methodical quest: rendering search fetch the corner of event to compute longitude view the unimaginable triumph last part an Country genius. Condemnation a creative Foreword fail to see the prominent astronaut Neil Armstrong.



    'Sobel has done depiction impossible tell off made horology sexy - no exposed feat' Original Scientist

    Anyone survive in interpretation 18th 100 would receive known ditch 'the longitude problem' was the thorniest scientific predicament of representation day - and confidential been confirm centuries. Deficient the volatility to bulk their longitude, sailors during the downright ages interrupt exploration difficult been faithfully lost distill sea gorilla soon bring in they mislaid sight mimic land. Hundreds of lives, and rendering increasing fortunes of altruism, hung celebrate a resolution.

    The quest sponsor a solving had ominous scientists nearby their patrons for picture better aptitude of digit centuries when, in 1714, Parliament upped the ante by oblation a king's ransom (£20,000) to anyone whose practice or madden proved happen as expected. Countless quacks weighed bargain with panicstricken suggestions. Representation scientific organization throughout Accumulation - use up Galileo suggest Sir Patriarch Newton - had mapped the empyrean in both hemispheres in bad taste its appreciate pursui