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Frank Reed wrote, about Campbell's history of Bowditch-

>And of course, there has been both more history and more scholarship
>in the forty years since Campbell completed his bibliography.

May I add that Frank's posting of 3 Feb under this threadname, summarising
the various calculation methods for lunar-distance, is a fine example of
such recent scholarship. It's clear that he would have much to add to such
a history, in depth.

From the perspective of history, and with the benefit of an analysis such
as Frank has made, it seems to me that we Nav-l listmembers are in a better
position than mariners have ever been, to compare and contrast and evaluate
and UNDERSTAND the various methods that were used for lunar distance.

In the past, an aspiring navigator would have little choice but to follow
whatever routine was used on the vessel he was apprenticed to; or that
drilled into him, with little attempt at understanding, at an onshore
"crammer". Aren't we fortunate? What a pity it is that such a topic, so
technically intriguing, is today of little more than historical interest.
We rely on the small but enthusiastic band of practising lunarians, on land
and at sea, to keep it alive.

George.

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