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One thing I found interesting is the amount of complicated mathematical calculations required to use any of the astronomical methods of determining longitude. Before Maskalyne's tables were published the process took hours and hours, and was, even with the tables, subject to error and miscalculation. But even more importantly, required a mathematical skill that wasn't necessarily to be found with every naval captain! The beauty of the chronometer method enabled by Harrison's watches was that the calculation took a matter of minutes, was not nearly so subject to error, and didn't require complex, advanced mathematical calculations.
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