NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: Nautical astronomy was different
From: Frank Reed CT
Date: 2004 Oct 24, 02:46 EDT
From: Frank Reed CT
Date: 2004 Oct 24, 02:46 EDT
Jared S wrote:
"<The accuracy of a lunar depends on the regulation of the chronometer?! >
Poorly phrased, but logical in the context of the times. "
One should be careful about treating the sentences and phrases in Bowditch, "the mariner's bible," like the chapters and verse in a "real" Bible. The New American Practical Navigator was a product of editing and commerce. And in the middle of the 19th century, the Navigator was rather poorly edited. In earlier editions, the book clearly stated that the accuracy of a lunar depends on the regulation of a "watch", which makes perfect sense since that's what you use to carry forward the results of a time sight. In later editions, someone carelessly changed the word watch to chronometer. Reading profound significance into an editorial error will turn us all into cult-followers! <g>
Frank R
[ ] Mystic, Connecticut
[X] Chicago, Illinois
"<The accuracy of a lunar depends on the regulation of the chronometer?! >
Poorly phrased, but logical in the context of the times. "
One should be careful about treating the sentences and phrases in Bowditch, "the mariner's bible," like the chapters and verse in a "real" Bible. The New American Practical Navigator was a product of editing and commerce. And in the middle of the 19th century, the Navigator was rather poorly edited. In earlier editions, the book clearly stated that the accuracy of a lunar depends on the regulation of a "watch", which makes perfect sense since that's what you use to carry forward the results of a time sight. In later editions, someone carelessly changed the word watch to chronometer. Reading profound significance into an editorial error will turn us all into cult-followers! <g>
Frank R
[ ] Mystic, Connecticut
[X] Chicago, Illinois
