See also:

• Science: Astronomy: History: Instruments  (12)
• Society: History: By Topic: Exploration  (304)
• Society: History: By Topic: Maritime  (308)

The Columbus Navigation Homepage - - The history, navigation, and landfall of Christopher Columbus. Includes a timeline of the life and voyages of Columbus.

Escape from Antarctica - - Recreates the navigation Ernest Shackleton's crew used on their voyage seeking rescue.

Evolution of the Sextant - - Illustrated article including details about dating. Links to antique instruments offered for sale.

The History of the Sextant - - Transcript of a talk given at the Science Museum of The University of Coimbra. Includes photos of ancient devices.

The History of the Sextant - - The evolution from the earliest instruments to the sophisticated devices used today described and illustrated.

John Harrison and the Longitude Problem - - The problem, the man, the clocks and the prize. Online exhibit at Royal Observatory Greenwich.

Longitude at Sea - - Describes 17th and 18th century use of eclipses of Jupiter's moons to identify position.

Medieval and Twentieth Century Navigation - - Methods and equipment used by Columbus and by the Apollo astronauts described, compared, and contrasted.

Navigation Instruments - - Brief descriptions, thumbnails, links to other resources.

The Seamans Secrets - - Text from a book originally printed in 1657 that discusses tides, declinations, and other marine navigation topics.

Secrets of Ancient Navigation - - An overview from the PBS show "The Search for Longitude".

Traditional Navigation in the Western Pacific - - Covers the role, techniques, and tools of the Carolinian navigator. From the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.

Understanding How Thompson Navigated - - About David Thompson's exploration of western Canada and the northwestern United States from 1790 to 1812, using a sextant and compass. From the Northwest Journal.

Viking Navigation - - Summary from the last chapter of The Viking by Howard La Fey.

The Viking Sun Compass - - How the Vikings found their way back from New York 1000 years ag.

Wayfinding, or Non-Instrument Navigation - - How Polynesians navigated before the invention of the compass, sextant, or clock.