On Tue, Jul 27, 2010 at 9:59 AM, Robert Livingston <bearboat2_at_comcast.net>wrote: > > > The Pacific navigators had no way of determining longitude from the stars > True. But Chuck specifically said that they could determine true east and west from the stars. My gut reaction to this was "BS" but upon thinking it over I believe that knowing the BAND of stars that ring the equator could give them clues to true east and true west (independently of the sun). Of course, keeping Polaris to your starboard or port would also work; as long as you were far enough above the equator to see Polaris. I suspect the Pacific Navigators did the same thing as the European Navigators; sailed to a latitude well east (or west) of their destination and turned the proper direction. There is even a name for this: "running down the latitude". Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA www.nwkayaking.net *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Tue Jul 27 2010 - 22:39:12 PDT
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