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Finding longitude without memorizing some very advanced
data (of the type Frank proposes) is indeed impossible.
Otherwise the ancients (who were certainly not less clever than we are)
would figure this out.

I would like to see Frank actually doing what he proposes,
but the experiment seems to be too expensive:-)

This discussion reminds me the following thought experiment (I apologise,
it has little or no relation to cel Nav).
Suppose you suddenly found yourself somewhere in VII century:-)
(And suppose for simplicity that you understand the language
of the local population). Can you make a miracle?
Something to impress people very strongly.
Assuming that you did not bring anything with you, you can only
use something that you know.

The situation is described in "Connecticut yankee" by Mark Twain,
but I think what he proposed is not really realistic.

Alex.

   

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