A new discovery for finding the longitude — John Shaqi
A new discovery for finding the longitudeHobbs, William
History
A new discovery for finding the longitude
Hobbs, William
Longitude -- Early works to 1800
For Solving this, there are Two Ways, the First and Infallible is, when
the Sun is either Rising or Setting; at which times, if the Air be clear,
observe what Numbers are pointed to by the two _Indexes_, (but observe
the swiftest first, because it will soon be removed) just as the Center
of the Sun is in the Horizon; and enter both the Numbers down, as before
directed, with the Day of the Month, and the Latitude you are then in:
Which having done, by the following Cannon, say,
As ℞
Is to t. c. of the Sun’s Decl.
So is t. Lat.
To s. c. of an Angle; which, if converted into Time (by 15)
Gives the Hour and Minute of the Sun’s Rising from Midnight;
and if Substracted from 12 ho. gives the Setting. Which shews
the true Hour and Minute at the Place where you then are,
either at Sea or Land.
The Second way for Solving the said Question, is by taking the Sun’s
Altitude, when about 5 or 10 degrees above the Horizon; and at the same
time let another Person see what Number the Swiftest Index points to,
and after that the Slowest: Then put them both down as before directed,
with the Day of the Month, and the Latitude of the place where you are;
then have you the Sun’s _Altitude_, the said _Latitude_, and the Sun’s
_Declination_, to find the Hour and Minute of the Day at the place
required.
Now having by the said Observations and Cannons found the Hour and Minute
of the Day for the Place where you are, when abroad; and by the Numbers
pointed to, by the two Indexes, also found the Hour and Minute that it
is at _London_, (if the Movement was there set going;) If you take the
Lesser of these from the Greater, and bring the Remainder into Minutes,
it will give the difference between the two places in ~Time~; by which
you may find their difference of Longitude either _East_ or _West_ to a
Minute, by the following proportion, (_viz._)
Suppose the Difference of Time was 37 Minutes, then say,
{ Minutes of} {Minutes of} {Minutes of} {Minutes of}
As { Time } : { Longitude} :: { Time } : { Longitude}
{ 1440. } { 21600 } { 37 } { 555.5 }
{or 24 hours} { Deg. Min.}
or 9 : 15.5
Required.
Which 9 deg. 15.5. min. being added to, or taken from the Longitude of
the Place, where the said Movement was first set in Motion, gives the
Longitude you are come into, as effectually as the Latitude is obtained
by Observation, as was at first proposed. So that it is evident, that
if any defect should be found in practice, it must proceed from the
Vicissitude of the Air; and not from any Deficiency in this Discovery, or
from the Cannons relating thereunto.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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