Where On Earth
19:00-20:00
£8 Adult
£4 16 & Under

Knowing our current location on the surface of the Earth is a long-standing problem. Early navigators used a variety of rudimentary methods including dead reckoning and sighting known landmarks, water depth, and the basic position of celestial bodies. Navigation tools further developed including the compass, sextant, and the marine chronometer.

In this talk Professor Giles Hammond will cover general navigation and the measurement of latitude and longitude. Focussing on the coordinate system used on Earth, how mariners estimate longitude and the development of the Harrison chronometers which won the Longitude prize in the 1700’s. We will also look briefly at modern navigation which is defined by the Global Positioning System (GPS) and why our understanding of gravity is essential for accurate position fixes.