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A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Can be of interest
From: Ark Shvetsky
Date: 2009 Mar 2, 12:16 -0800
From: Ark Shvetsky
Date: 2009 Mar 2, 12:16 -0800
I think it can be of interest During Willem Barents's third voyage to the North and the wintering on Novaya Zemlya (1596-97), many astronomical observations were made. Solar declinations quoted in the diary of Gerrit de Veer indicate that the journal dates are correct within three days and that the Gregorian calendar was used throughout. The much-debated premature return of the sun on 24 January 1597, when it was geometrically below the horizon, fits many, but not all, of the characteristics of the arctic mirage that is now known as the Novaya Zemlya effect. This same effect might also explain the controversial report of a conjunction of Jupiter and the moon on 25 January 1597, when Jupiter would normally not have been visible. It is shown, however, that the occurrence of the conjunction during that night could have been concluded from following the positions of the moon and Jupiter for several hours. An analysis of latitude determinations made at the expedition's wintering place, Het Behouden Huys, indicates that typical measurements had an accuracy of 15'-20'. In the Novaya Zemlya region, the variation of the earth's magnetic field was about 30W 400 years ago, and about 23E in 1871, and it is about 32E today. During the return voyage in two open boats,Barents died on 20 June 1597. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Navigation List archive: www.fer3.com/arc To post, email NavList@fer3.com To , email NavList-@fer3.com -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---