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Re: Accuracy of the first Nautical Almanacs
From: Jackson McDonald
Date: 2015 Apr 21, 13:04 -0700
From: Jackson McDonald
Date: 2015 Apr 21, 13:04 -0700
Don,
I don't know whether anyone has used modern computers to check the work of the team of experts -- also called "computers" -- who crunched the numbers for the Nautical Almanac under Nevil Maskelyne, royal astronomer.
Despite other controversies surrounding him, Maskelyne is generally applauded for his ability to assembly, organize and manage this team of human computers. He placed a higer priority on the Nautical Almanac than his predecessor or successor.
There is a whole chapter on this topic in the recently published biography about Maskelyne. http://www.amazon.com/Maskelyne-Astronomer-Royal-Rebekah-Higgett/dp/0719809126/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1429646534&sr=1-1&keywords=maskelyne
JMcD
