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212 Latitude & [and] Longitude
sufficient rapidity to act as a
time indicator for terrestrial
voyages. She completes the circuit
of the celestial sphere in 27 1/2 days,
so that to one day the travels
about 13 degrees or her own
diameter in about an hour.
She thus acts as the minute
hand, so to speak, of the celestial
clock, and as her rapid motion
can be detected in a few seconds
by telescopic comparison of the
moons place with some fixed
star, it serves to show the time
within a few seconds, which is
precisely what is required by
the seaman. Theoretically all
he has to do, is to take the
moons apparent distance from
a Known star and also her height
above the horizon. Thence he can
calculate what would be the moons
distance from the star, at the
moment of observation if the
observer where at the Earths centre
But the Nautical Almanac
informs him of the precise instant
of Greenwich or Washington time,
corresponding to this calculated
distance. If he has what he
requires, the true referance time.
Of course, all
methods of finding the way at
seas, Except the rough processes
depending upon the log and
compass, require that the celestial
bodies, or some of them, should
be seen. Hence it is, that cloudy
weather for any considerable
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Latitude & [and] Longitude 213
length of time, occassions danger,
and sometimes leads to shipwreck
and loss of life. The captain of
a ship is supposed to proceed with
Extreme caution when the weather
has long been cloudy, Especially,
if according to his reckoning, he is
drawing near shore. Then the lead
comes into play for soundings
and by day and night, a careful
watch is Kept, for sight of
land. But it sometimes happens
that despite all such precautions,
a ship is lost, for thier are various
conditions of weather, which, occuring
when a ship is nearing shore render
the most careful outlook futile.
These conditions are included
among ordinary seas risks, by which
is meant all such dangers; as would
leave a captain blameless if he
met with a shipwreck. It would
be well if no ships were Ever
lost, save from ordinary sea risks
but it is certain that the neglect
of due care, Either in maintaining
a proper watch, as the shore is
approached, or in taking Every
available opportunity of observing
the heavens, is responsible for the
greater number of avoidable
shipwrecks
From
Harper's Weekly
April 7, 1888
Page 247
Volume XXXII No 1633
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