Longitude : the true story of a lone genius who solved the greatest scientific problem of his time /
Sobel, Dava,
Longitude : the true story of a lone genius who solved the greatest scientific problem of his time / Dava Sobel. - viii, 184 pages ; 20 cm
Includes bibliographical references (pages 177-180) and index.
Imaginary lines -- The sea before time -- Adrift in a clockwork universe -- Time in a bottle -- Powder of sympathy -- The prize -- Cogmarker's journal -- The grasshopper goes to sea -- Hands on heaven's clock -- The diamond timekeeper -- Trial by fire and water -- A tale of two portraits -- The second voyage of captain James Cook -- The mass production of genius -- In the meridian courtyard.
The story of mariners' centuries-long search for ways of determining longitude that tells not only of the scientific advances but of the perseverance, pettiness, politics, and interesting anecdotes involved. Longitude is the dramatic human story of an epic scientific quest, and of John Harrison's forty-year obsession with building his perfect timekeeper, known today as the chronometer. Full of heroism and chicanery, brilliance and the absurd, it is also a fascinating brief history of astronomy, navigation, and clockmaking. Through Dava Sobel's consummate skill, Longitude will open a new window on our world for all who read it.
0802713122 9780802713124 9780802715296 080271529X 0140258795 9780140258790
95017402
Harrison, John, 1693-1776.
Harrison, John, 1693-1776.
Harrison, John, 1693-1776
Longitude--Measurement--History.
Chronometers--History.
Clock and watch makers--Great Britain--Biography.
Clock and watch makers--Great Britain--Biography.
Clock and watch makers--Biography.--Great Britain
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Science & Technology.
Chronometers.
Clock and watch makers.
Longitude--Measurement.
Great Britain.
Chronometers History United Kingdom Harrison longitude Biography Navigation Marine Chronometer Clock and watch makers Biography Great Britain Longitude Measurement History
Biography.
Biographies.
Biographies.
History.
Longitude : the true story of a lone genius who solved the greatest scientific problem of his time / Dava Sobel. - viii, 184 pages ; 20 cm
Includes bibliographical references (pages 177-180) and index.
Imaginary lines -- The sea before time -- Adrift in a clockwork universe -- Time in a bottle -- Powder of sympathy -- The prize -- Cogmarker's journal -- The grasshopper goes to sea -- Hands on heaven's clock -- The diamond timekeeper -- Trial by fire and water -- A tale of two portraits -- The second voyage of captain James Cook -- The mass production of genius -- In the meridian courtyard.
The story of mariners' centuries-long search for ways of determining longitude that tells not only of the scientific advances but of the perseverance, pettiness, politics, and interesting anecdotes involved. Longitude is the dramatic human story of an epic scientific quest, and of John Harrison's forty-year obsession with building his perfect timekeeper, known today as the chronometer. Full of heroism and chicanery, brilliance and the absurd, it is also a fascinating brief history of astronomy, navigation, and clockmaking. Through Dava Sobel's consummate skill, Longitude will open a new window on our world for all who read it.
0802713122 9780802713124 9780802715296 080271529X 0140258795 9780140258790
95017402
Harrison, John, 1693-1776.
Harrison, John, 1693-1776.
Harrison, John, 1693-1776
Longitude--Measurement--History.
Chronometers--History.
Clock and watch makers--Great Britain--Biography.
Clock and watch makers--Great Britain--Biography.
Clock and watch makers--Biography.--Great Britain
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Science & Technology.
Chronometers.
Clock and watch makers.
Longitude--Measurement.
Great Britain.
Chronometers History United Kingdom Harrison longitude Biography Navigation Marine Chronometer Clock and watch makers Biography Great Britain Longitude Measurement History
Biography.
Biographies.
Biographies.
History.