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Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A letter from London reports a new method by a Yorkshire gentleman for determining latitude at any hour using a single sun altitude, now with Astronomer Royal Mr. Maskelyne and awaiting approval by the commissioners of longitude. It promises major navigation improvements for mariners facing cloudy noons.
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Extract of a letter from London, March 30.
"We are informed from good authority, that there is now in the hands of Mr. Maskelyne, astronomer royal, and will be laid before the commissioners of longitude for their approbation, at their next meeting, a method for determining the latitude of a place at any hour of the day, when the sun can be seen at one altitude only (by a gentleman at Staithes, near Whitby, in Yorkshire) which will be of great advantage to the mariner, and the greatest improvement in navigation, of any thing published 200 years, and was much wanted, as that could only be done by a meridian altitude; and frequently the mariner is prevented by clouds obscuring the sun for many days together at noon: and often in long voyages, is obliged to beat about to and fro for a long time, sometimes a month or more, before he dare make the land, if he be not sure of his latitude, which will be now put into his power to do at any hour of the day, as well as at noon."
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Foreign News Details
Primary Location
London
Event Date
March 30
Key Persons
Outcome
method to be presented for approbation; promises great advantage to mariners by allowing latitude determination at any hour, reducing delays in voyages.
Event Details
A method for determining latitude at any hour of the day using a single sun altitude, invented by a gentleman at Staithes near Whitby in Yorkshire, is in the hands of Mr. Maskelyne, astronomer royal, and will be laid before the commissioners of longitude for approval. Previously, latitude could only be found via meridian altitude at noon, often obscured by clouds, causing mariners to delay landfall for weeks.