Especially when they dropped below the equator?
2006-07-31 11:40:41 · 12 answers · asked by Giggly Giraffe 7 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Geography
The compass always points to the true north. And our sun raises in the east and sets in the west. When the sun sets, Polaris is due north and Southern Cross due south.
At the equator the Polaris sits on the horizon at zero degree altitude or zero degree latitude. Measuring its height above the horizon (altitude) enables the navigator to calculate his latitude. Moreover, since Polaris is due north it enables magnetic variation - the difference between due north and the magnetic north of a compass - to be determined and adjustments made.
2006-08-01 04:56:54 · answer #1 · answered by sharpshooter 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Occasionally one of the boneheads would get lost as hell.One in particular was Christopher Columbus.He thought he was in India and called the Natives he found "indios" which is why Natives today are called Indians even though Geographically they are not.
According to the garbage they teach in schools today he "discovered" America,even though people had been here for thousands of years.He was a slave owning bible thumping murderer and the original 9/11.
2006-07-31 21:38:14 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
By the stars; since the night sky isn't affected by magnetism and the sun always rises in the east and sets in the west, they're useful guides. On clear nights, a system called (I believe) dead reckoning was common to use by locking in a distinct course, again based on observing the sun.
2006-07-31 18:44:53 · answer #3 · answered by ensign183 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By the stars.
They do have stars below the equator....
See the Southern Cross that points to the south pole.
http://www.wilderness-survival.net/chp18.php
2006-07-31 19:31:02 · answer #4 · answered by Blah 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the northern hemisphere, they used the North Pole to tell them which way was north. In the southern hemisphere, they used the Southern Cross for the same purpose.
2006-07-31 18:44:21 · answer #5 · answered by Ashti 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They used a hand held navigation system very similar to the magellan used today !!!
2006-07-31 18:44:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stellar navigation.
2006-07-31 18:45:31 · answer #7 · answered by Bamos 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They used a Global Positoing system supplied by the queen mum.
2006-07-31 18:49:37 · answer #8 · answered by elvizpressley 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://www.seattleartmuseum.org/exhibit/interactives/spain/launchWin.htm
Excellent resource on Age of Exploration and navigational tools.
2006-07-31 21:41:27 · answer #9 · answered by Gigi 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A compass always points north...
2006-07-31 18:50:43 · answer #10 · answered by NC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋