![]() ![]() (This need played an enormous part in advancing science during the early days of global navigation on Earth.) (In southern latitudes you can use the star Sigma Octantis which is the closest star to the southern celestial pole.) Determining longitude is more difficult and requires precise clocks. On Earth, latitude was traditionally determined by using a sextant, a device which, when aimed at the North Star, Polaris, would tell you how many degrees above the Equator you were at. Any point on the planet Earth is between 180 degrees 0 minutes east and 180 degrees 0 minutes west of the Prime Meridian (which would happen to both represent the same place on the exact opposite side of the globe from the Prime Meridian but that's only confusing the issue). Longitude is measured by degrees east or west of the Prime Meridian (an imaginary vertical line that passes through Greenwich England). That means that any point on the planet Earth is between 90 degrees 0 minutes north of the equator (the North Pole) and 90 degrees 0 minutes south of the Equator (the South Pole). Each degree is further divided into 60 minutes. Latitude is measured by degrees north or south of the Equator. ![]() On the planet Earth, locations can be identified using a system that divides the world into lines of latitude and longitude. But no matter, we'll suspend our disbelief for a moment and say that the world is like a donut.Īll of this is important to understand because, like Earth, places in Britannia are located using a coordinate system that uses latitudes and longitudes. ![]() The geometric solid that most accurately represents this behavior is a torus (or a donut shape for those of you who may not be mathematically inclined) but to say that the world is a torus would not be completely accurate because Britannia is exactly the same distance across no matter where on the map you happen to measure it and a torus would demonstrate some warping effect. However, it is really a flat rectangular world and should you happen to sail off the end of it, you will be magically teleported to the opposite end. The world of Britannia is intended to represent a sphere similar to the planet Earth. 2 Enough already! Just tell me how it works!īeing a treatise on the world and how to navigate it.1 Latitudes and Longitudes and Sextants. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |