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Re: {Spam?} Sobel and Longitude. was:: Re: David Thomson and his lunar tables
From: John Huth
Date: 2010 Mar 20, 08:14 -0400
From: John Huth
Date: 2010 Mar 20, 08:14 -0400
Wolfgang -
Does Wagner then dispute Morrison's description of the use of lunar eclipses by Columbus twice?
In the Wright article, he says the Roger of Hereford cites lunar eclipse timing in the 12th century, and also cites previous literature suggesting what is effectively the lunar method. The Columbus biography dates from around 1946, and is based on an examination of a fair amount of primary material, as is Wright's 1923 article.
Perhaps Wagner didn't have access to this material? To be discussed, of course.
Best,
John H.
On Sat, Mar 20, 2010 at 6:49 AM, Wolfgang Köberer <koeberer@navigationsgeschichte.de> wrote:
The alleged "lunars" by Vespucci as well as Columbus' attempts at discovering longitude by means of the moon have been dealt with in an article by Hermann Wagner: "Die Legende der Längenbestimmung Vespuccis nach Mondabständen", in: Nachrichten der Königlichen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, Math.-phys. Klasse 1917, 264 - 298. It's quite old but I think its arguments are still valid.Arne Molander tried to show that Columbus was using some sort of lunar method in: "Columbus and the Method of Lunar Distance", in: Terrae Incognitae, Vol. 24 (1992), 65 - 78. I find this not very convincing and highly speculative.Then there is: Randles, W.G.L,."Portuguese and Spanish attempts to measure longitude in the 16th century", in: Boletim da Biblioteca da Universidade de Coimbra, Vol. 39 (1984), 143 - 159, reprinted (and more accessible) in: Mariner's Mirror, Vol. 81 (1995), 402 - 408.But - to my knowledge - nothing pre.1500 - at least as far as lunar distances proper are concerned. That was first proposed - as has been pointed out numerous times here on the list - by Johann Werner in 1514.Wolfgang