{"product_id":"taking-the-stars-celestial-navigation-from-argonauts-to-astronauts","title":"Taking the Stars: Celestial Navigation from Argonauts to Astronauts","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn early astrolabe, its name derived from Greek words for star (astron) and to take (lambanein), was an instrument with which a navigator took the stars to determine a vessels position in the great expanse of the sea. From the simple wooden kaml developed by ancient Arab mariners to the modern navigators electronic global positioning system, Taking the Stars: Celestial Navigation from Argonauts to Astronauts$I traces the long path of ingenious inventions developed for celestial navigation. Renowned collector Peter Ifland applies his talent for clear, engaging prose to describe the incremental improvements, worldchanging advances, and wellintentioned failures that have marked the evolution of celestial navigation instruments for over 1,000 years. Two panoramas converge in these lavishly illustrated pages. One is a parade of wonderfuland often, wonderfully cleverdevices for celestial navigation: among others, the kaml, the crossstaff and backstaff, the astrolabe, and the marvelous variations on the divided celestial circlethe halfcircle, quadrant, quintant, sextant, octant, and their kin. The other panorama is a carefully delineated rollcall of the great craftsmen and inventors of celestial navigation instrumentsthe likes of Thomas Godfrey, Captain John Davis, John Dollond, Edward Nairne, John Hadley, and Jesse Ramsden.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Brand: Krieger Pub Co","offers":[{"title":"Ifland, Peter \/ hardcover","offer_id":47846575276277,"sku":"SONG1575240955","price":82.49,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/5804\/8501\/files\/91XN3K-5pFL.jpg?v=1773834680","url":"https:\/\/ergodebooks.com\/products\/taking-the-stars-celestial-navigation-from-argonauts-to-astronauts","provider":"Ergodebooks","version":"1.0","type":"link"}