Things I learned from reading Bowditch’s classic text on ‘Navigation’ this summer
Over the summer I read the classic textbook on navigation, first written in 1802 by Nathaniel Bowditch of Salem, Mass., and updated ever since. I didn’t know that most of our named stars were named by ancient Arab astronomers. Acamar, Alkaid, Altair, Elnath, Enif, Kochab, Markab, Vega and so on. But one, Nunki, is Babylonian ...
Over the summer I read the classic textbook on navigation, first written in 1802 by Nathaniel Bowditch of Salem, Mass., and updated ever since.
Over the summer I read the classic textbook on navigation, first written in 1802 by Nathaniel Bowditch of Salem, Mass., and updated ever since.
I didn’t know that most of our named stars were named by ancient Arab astronomers. Acamar, Alkaid, Altair, Elnath, Enif, Kochab, Markab, Vega and so on. But one, Nunki, is Babylonian in origin. Also, according to Bowditch, "Betelgeuse" comes from the Arabic for "armpit," for Orion’s arm.
I also learned from Bowditch that icebergs tend to be closer than people think — that is, "There is a tendency to overestimate the distance." Also, when operating in an ice pack, "always work with the ice, not against it, and keep moving." Sound advice, I should think.
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