tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3621026.post4172537502311330049..comments2024-03-18T13:17:22.915+01:00Comments on Robert's Stochastic thoughts: LongitudeRoberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455788499385673507noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3621026.post-53136568230813914542013-08-11T07:01:24.989+02:002013-08-11T07:01:24.989+02:00The method involving studying the stars (moons of ...The method involving studying the stars (moons of Jupiter, Venus, etc.) was not in fact sufficiently precise or reliable. It was the standard method for a couple of hundred years before the Longitude Prize was won by Harrison, and the reason he went with the clock method is that *it wasn't good enough*.<br /><br />First of all, it had a precision problem which was not solved until much later. It particularly sucked at sea, which was where it was most wanted, but it wasn't that great on land either. Second, it was hopeless when the sky was overcast. Many people attempted to improve it and failed to make any headway.<br /><br />The clock method took over VERY quickly after Harrison's discovery. Within a couple of decades all the ship owners was buying chronometers, even though they were ferociously expensive. (I did study the history of this a while back.)Nathanaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3621026.post-4623239345104182742013-08-08T22:47:25.806+02:002013-08-08T22:47:25.806+02:00Been reading the Baroque Cycle, have you? :-)Been reading the Baroque Cycle, have you? :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com