Lot Essay
Marine Chronometers are highly accurate clocks kept aboard ships to aid in navigation. They were developed in the 18th century by John Harrison, and at the time were considered a major technical achievement.
Navigators needed to be able to determine longitude, which meant they needed a time standard that would work aboard a ship. Ordinary clocks were of no use at sea due to temperature changes and the ship's motion. A chronometer is set to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), and the time difference between the chronometer and the ship's time were used to calculate the longitude of the ship.
Although considered a secondary means of navigation today, the chronometer is the only navigational method that is completely self-reliant, especially in the event of loss of power or radio communications
Navigators needed to be able to determine longitude, which meant they needed a time standard that would work aboard a ship. Ordinary clocks were of no use at sea due to temperature changes and the ship's motion. A chronometer is set to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), and the time difference between the chronometer and the ship's time were used to calculate the longitude of the ship.
Although considered a secondary means of navigation today, the chronometer is the only navigational method that is completely self-reliant, especially in the event of loss of power or radio communications