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drzaiusx11yesterday at 2:00 PM2 repliesview on HN

There's a book I read a while back named "Longitude" that maps the storied quest in science to improve upon dead reckoning by devising greater and greater accuracy in time pieces used on ships. Iirc it was a fun read if anyone else finds that sort of thing interesting (as I do.)


Replies

mjleeyesterday at 3:34 PM

It's a great read! A story of how the scientific elite stalled progress because the right answer wasn't the one they hoped it would be, and didn't come from the sort of person they thought it should.

If you get the chance, you can see some of Harrison's chronometers at the Royal Observatory in London, though I don't know if they're always on display.

I'll add a recommendation for Sextant by David Barrie.

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sebgyesterday at 3:33 PM

What other books do you like?