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Paper, 'The description and life of an apparatus added as an improvement to Davis's quadrant, consisting of a mercurial level for taking the co-altitude of the Sun or star at sea, without the visual assistance of the sensible horizon which frequently is obscure' by Charles Leigh

Reference number: CLP/8ii/58

Date: 28 June 1739

Description

Leigh describes apparatus used to measure the altitude of the Sun. He states that 'to arrive at the utmost perfection in navigation, three things are absolutely requisite, viz, the variation, the latitude, the longitude'. Includes two copies of testimonial signed by Thomas Strachey, Thomas Griffin, J Irving and William Slanning, and a figure of the apparatus.

Subject: Astronomy / Navigation / Scientific apparatus and instruments

Read to the Royal Society on 28 June 1739

Published in Philosophical Transactions as 'The description and use of an apparatus added as an improvement to Davis's quadrant, consisting of a mercurial level, for taking the co-altitude of sun or star at sea, without the usual assistance of the sensible horizon, which frequently is obscured'

Reference number
CLP/8ii/58
Earliest possible date
28 June 1739
Physical description
Ink on paper
Page extent
11 pages
Format
Manuscript

Creator name

Charles Leigh

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Citation

Charles Leigh, Paper, 'The description and life of an apparatus added as an improvement to Davis's quadrant, consisting of a mercurial level for taking the co-altitude of the Sun or star at sea, without the visual assistance of the sensible horizon which frequently is obscure' by Charles Leigh, 28 June 1739, CLP/8ii/58, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/clp_8ii_58/paper-the-description-and-life-of-an-apparatus-added-as-an-improvement-to-daviss-quadrant-consisting-of-a-mercurial-level-for-taking-the-co-altitude-of-the-sun-or-star-at-sea-without-the-visual-assistance-of-the-sensible-horizon-which-frequently-is-obscure-by-charles-leigh, accessed on 13 October 2024

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  • Classified Papers

    Dates: 1592-1741

    The 'Classified Papers' of the Royal Society are papers from British and international natural philosophers and scholars categorised according to subject areas.

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