longitude

The Longitude collection explores the development of tools and methods of determining longitude, an essential but very difficult problem for ocean explorers in the 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries. This collection focuses on the developments of Chronometers, astronomical measurement tools and star tables, and also includes a dozen copies of original UK “Longitude Act” documents. These Longitude Acts provided the funds to support the development of the science of Longitude.  This mid-sized collection (~175 documents) features early scientific documents (printed in 1574) to present day.