NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Celestial observations v. Coast Survey Methods
From: Chuck Griffiths
Date: 2002 Jan 18, 3:09 PM
From: Chuck Griffiths
Date: 2002 Jan 18, 3:09 PM
All this talk about map datum v. sextant observations got me thinking about how surveyors placed major survey monuments before GPS. I always figured they mostly took very accurate celestial observations. If you thought so too, check out the history of the US Coast Survey at http://www.lib.noaa.gov/edocs/CONTENTS.htm. It will completely amaze you. For instance, the first truly accurate longitude reference in the US came using the "American Method" - using the telegraph to determine time difference between two points. ********************************************************************** This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and may be legally privileged or otherwise exempt from disclosure under applicable law. This e-mail and its files are intended solely for the individual or entity to whom they are addressed and their content is the property of Smiths Aerospace. If you are not the intended recipient, please do not read, copy, use or disclose this communication. If you have received this e-mail in error please notify the e-mail administrator at postmaster@si.com and then delete this e-mail, its files and any copies. This footnote also confirms that this e-mail message has been scanned for the presence of known computer viruses. ***********************************************************************
