Re: Carry on, Mr. Bowditch
Subject: Re: Carry on, Mr. Bowditch
From: Fred Hebard (Fred@XXX.XXX)
Date: Wed Jan 15 2003 - 19:34:09 EST
The Nautical Almanac was first published in the 1760s, about 40 years
prior to Bowditch's time. It was published primarily to facilitate
the computation of time by observation of distances between the moon
and other celestial objects, the classical lunar so much discussed on
this list. And the sextant was invented primarily to perform the
measurements of those lunar distances to the precision required. A
sextant is not needed to observe occultations. So Bowditch did not
invent the lunar. But, according to the book on navigation that
bears his name, he did markedly simplify the calculations to where
they could be performed by ordinary seamen rather than only by those
with extremely high proficiency in mathematics. Lunars for the rest
of us.
I don't know what a three-star lunar is, but others on this list may
be able to enlighten us.
Fred
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Frederick V. Hebard, PhD Email: mailto:Fred@XXX.XXX
Staff Pathologist, Meadowview Research Farms Web: http://www.acf.org
American Chestnut Foundation Phone: (276) 944-4631
14005 Glenbrook Ave. Fax: (276) 944-0934
Meadowview, VA 24361
