Marine Navigation in the Age of Exploration

[Dave Monroe]

Marine Navigation in the Age of Exploration 

To accompany a major exhibition, Spain in the Age of
Exploration, 1492-1819, the Seattle Art Museum (SAM)
presents this interactive website that illustrates the
use of four ancient nautical instruments: the
Quadrant, Asrolabe, Octant, and Chronometer. Each
instrument's section includes pictures, a bit of
history, and a description of how it was used. For
example, the astrolabe was originally devised by
Persian astronomers, and is used to determine latitude
at sea by measuring the angle of the sun or other
stars. In addition, the site includes an early map of
North America (1730) and a movie showing David Burch
from the Starpath School of Navigation, demonstrating
the use of an octant.

http://www.seattleartmuseum.org/exhibit/interactives/spain/launchWin.htm


		
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