alb5407489

Navigation Instrument, Nocturnal,17th Century

A nocturnal is a simple analog computer, made of two or more dials, that will provide the local time based on the time of year and a sighting of Polaris, the North Star, and one or more other stars. Knowing the time is important in piloting for calculating tides and some nocturnals incorporate tide charts for important ports. The earliest image presenting the use of a nocturnal is in a manuscript dated from the 12th century. Illustration from Ship & Ways of Other Days by Edward Keble Chatterton, 1913 (cropped and cleaned).

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Title: Navigation Instrument, Nocturnal,17th Century

Caption: A nocturnal is a simple analog computer, made of two or more dials, that will provide the local time based on the time of year and a sighting of Polaris, the North Star, and one or more other stars. Knowing the time is important in piloting for calculating tides and some nocturnals incorporate tide charts for important ports. The earliest image presenting the use of a nocturnal is in a manuscript dated from the 12th century. Illustration from Ship & Ways of Other Days by Edward Keble Chatterton, 1913 (cropped and cleaned).

Credit: Album / Science Source

Releases: ? Model Release: No - ? Property Release: No
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Image size: 3515 × 4800 px | 48.3 MB

Print size: 29.8 × 40.6 cm | 1383.9 × 1889.8 in (300 dpi)

Keywords: 17TH CENTURY • AGE OF DISCOVERY • ANALOG COMPUTER • BW • DEVICE • HISTORY • HOROLOGIUM NOCTURNUM • INSTRUMENT • MARITIME • NAVIGATION • NIGHT • NOCTURLABE • NOCTURNAL