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$19.95
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More copies of this ISBNThis title in other editionseBook editionsLongitude Signed Editionby Dava Sobel
Synopses & ReviewsPublisher Comments:Anyone alive in the eighteenth century would have known that “the longitude problem” was the thorniest scientific dilemma of the dayand had been for centuries. Lacking the ability to measure their longitude, sailors throughout the great ages of exploration had been literally lost at sea as soon as they lost sight of land. Thousands of lives, and the increasing fortunes of nations, hung on a resolution. The scientific establishment of Europefrom Galileo to Sir Isaac Newtonhad mapped the heavens in both hemispheres in its certain pursuit of a celestial answer. In stark contrast, one man, John Harrison, dared to imagine a mechanical solutiona clock that would keep precise time at sea, something no clock had ever been able to do on land. Longitude is the dramatic human story of an epic scientific quest, and of Harrison's forty-year obsession with building his perfect timekeeper, known today as the chronometer. Full of heroism and chicanery, it is also a fascinating brief history of astronomy, navigation, and clockmaking, and opens a new window on our world. Book News Annotation:This smart little (5x7.5") book contains the engrossing story of John
Harrison's (1693-1776) 40-year obsession with the "the longitude
problem" which resulted in what is known today as the chronometer, a
tool that finally made accurate ocean navigation possible.
Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Description:Includes bibliographical references (p. 177-180) and index. About the AuthorDana Sobel is the bestselling author of Longitude, Galileo's Daughter, The Planets, co-author of The Illustrated Longitude, and editor of Letters to Father. She lives in East Hampton, New York. What Our Readers Are SayingBe the first to add a comment for a chance to win!Product Details
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Biography » Science and Technology
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