Greeks and Arabs were aware of a round earth back in 400BC.After the Greek epicycle fiasco, they probably figured out about the earth rotating about the sun.Given the Arabs early knowledge of navigation, they might well have known this also but Europe didn't always have knowledge of their early science; even to today. Their astrolabe seemed to have a lot of info. I haven't figured out anything more than its basic angle measurement.Staffs and backstaffs predate the sextant for measuring and of course, the knotted string/wood dowel also. Quadrant in Columbus' time. Europe on board with heliocentric theory about 1500AD; completely abandoned flat earth finally around 1500AD, probably some much earlier.Polynesians were seafarers, would be interesting to know their theory of the celestial relationship.RonWild CheriC&C 30STL
From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of dwight veinot Sent: Monday, January 28, 2013 10:01 AM To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Subject: Re: Stus-List Sextant Was the sextant invented before we knew the difference? Dwight Veinot C&C 35 MKII, Alianna Head of St. Margaret's Bay, NS From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Frederick G Street Sent: January 28, 2013 10:45 AM To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Subject: Re: Stus-List Sextant Yes, that's common knowledge; but the process of doing celestial navigation actually presumes that the earth (or your location on it) is fixed, and the sun is doing the moving. Here's one of the more concise books on the topic: http://www.amazon.com/Celestial-Navigation-Yachtsmen-Mary-Blewitt/dp/0070059284 Fred Street -- Minneapolis S/V Oceanis (1979 C&C Landfall 38) -- on the hard in Bayfield , WI :^( On Jan 28, 2013, at 6:01 AM, dwight veinot <dwightvei...@hfx.eastlink.ca> wrote: Is it not common knowledge that the sun essentially remains fixed for all intents and purposes and the earth does the moving?
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