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The Antikythera mechanism (/ ˌ æ n t ɪ k ɪ ˈ θ ɪər ə / AN-tik-ih-THEER-ə, US also / ˌ æ n t aɪ k ɪ ˈ-/ AN-ty-kih-) [1] [2] is an Ancient Greek hand-powered orrery (model of the Solar System). It is the oldest known example of an analogue computer. [3] [4] [5] It could be used to predict astronomical positions and eclipses decades ...
The point of light striking the far side of the instrument gave the altitude or tell time. All those mentioned were the traditional instruments used until well into the second half of the 20th century. After World War II electronic aids to navigation developed very rapidly and, to a great extent, replaced more traditional tools.
A binnacle (/ ˈ b ɪ n ə k əl /) is a waist-high case or stand on the deck of a ship, generally mounted in front of the helmsman, in which navigational instruments are placed for easy and quick reference as well as to protect the delicate instruments.
Backstaff is the name given to any instrument that measures the altitude of the sun by the projection of a shadow. It appears that the idea for measuring the sun's altitude using back observations originated with Thomas Harriot. [2] Many types of instruments evolved from the cross-staff that can be classified as backstaffs. Only the Davis ...
Spencer, Browning & Rust was a London firm that manufactured instruments for navigational use during the 18th and 19th centuries. The predecessor company of Spencer and Browning was established by William Spencer and Samuel Browning in 1778, before they entered into partnership with Ebenezer Rust in 1784.
1859 Helmsman's marine sandglass, in a four-column wood stand. A marine sandglass is a timepiece of simple design that is a relative of the common hourglass, a marine (nautical) instrument known since the 14th century (although reasonably presumed to be of very ancient use and origin).
To use the instrument, the course of the flagship was first set on the guide bar. When the initial and final stations had been set using the position bars, the speed ratio clamp was set to show the ratio of own ship speed to the speed of the flagship (if the flagship was doing 10 knots, and the manoeuvring ship had 15 knots available, the clamp ...
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