Re: On polar nav
Subject: Re: On polar nav
From: Peter Fogg (ffive@XXX.XXX)
Date: Wed Sep 11 2002 - 21:35:23 EDT
Walter Guinon wrote:
> Is the behavior of a pendulum a useful indication of nearness to the pole?
>
Don't know, but among their lists of indispensable equipment to bring for
hanging around the pole I've come across no mention of pendulums. My
understanding of the method used was observations of the sun over a 24 hour
period. After allowance for change of declination the altitude should remain
the same all around the horizon at the pole.
Another little mystery is why they used sextants rather than theodolites,
which would seem to be more useful for the purpose.
