Longitude The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time by Dava Sobel
Brand: WALKER & CO
Product Description
The dramatic human story of an epic scientific quest and of one mans fortyyear obsession to find a solution to the thorniest scientific dilemma of the daythe longitude problem. Anyone alive in the eighteenth century would have known that the longitude problem was the thorniest scientific dilemma of the dayand had been for centuries. Lacking the ability to measure their longitude sailors throughout the great ages of exploration had been literally lost at sea as soon as they lost sight of land. Thousands of lives and the increasing fortunes of nations hung on a resolution. One man John Harrison in complete opposition to the scientific community dared to imagine a mechanical solutiona clock that would keep precise time at sea something no clock had ever been able to do on land. Longitude is the dramatic human story of an epic scientific quest and of Harrisons fortyyear obsession with building his perfect timekeeper known today as the chronometer. Full of heroism and chicanery it is also a fascinating brief history of astronomy navigation and clockmaking and opens a new window on our world. show more
Condition : New
Author : Dava Sobel
Weight : 324.12
Publisher : WALKER ampamp CO
Language : English
EAN : 9780802715296
ISBN10 : 080271529X
Format : Paperback
Date of Publication : 19870429
Place of Publication : New York United States
Pagination : NA
Dimensions : 118 X 187 X 15mm