Mason Dixon

[Adam J. Thornton]

> Sez here in the New columbia encyclo that Charles Mason and Jeremiah 
> Dixon were astronomers.  I admit I'm ignorant.  Surveying have a heck 
> alot to do with astronomy in the 18th C?

Oh, my, yes.

Umberto Eco's _Island of the Day Before_ is a great read for the background
of the longitude problem.  By the mid-18th century, you had an accurate
chronometer, and star positions at given times were one good way to
accurately locate your position; for a geodetic survey this would have been
an invaluable set of skills.

Adam
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