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Studies in the History of Natural Sciences  2021, Vol. 40 Issue (1): 105-114    DOI:
ARTICLES     
A New Discussion on the Use of Magnetic Declination for Longitude Measurement by Athanasius Kircher, Martino Martini and Edmond Halley in Early Modern Europe
DAI Biyun
Department of the History of Science, Tsinghua University,Beijing 100084, China
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Abstract  In the 1630s and 40s, Athanasius Kircher used the Jesuit Global Network to observe and collect magnetic declination data at many locations, and tried to use this method to calculate longitudes in a larger area. However, his magnetic declination data became less reliable due to the evolution of the Earth's magnetic declination. Martino Martini and other Jesuits provided Kircher with a lot of magnetic declination data and clues. Martino Martini's Novus Atlas Sinensis calculated the longitudes with the help of solar and lunar eclipses. At the end of the 17th century, with the support of the Royal Society and the Royal Navy, Edmond Halley mapped the contour lines of the Earth's magnetic fields on the Atlantic Ocean. “Halley's Lines” officially initiated the use of magnetic declinations to measure longitudes in large areas. This landmark invention went beyond the mere pointing function of the compass, and was, in essence, geomagnetic-matching navigation.

Key words： Longitude measurement      magnetic declination      Athanasius Kircher      Martino Martini      Edmond Halley     
Received: 22 July 2020      Published: 27 January 2022
ZTFLH:  N09  
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DAI Biyun. A New Discussion on the Use of Magnetic Declination for Longitude Measurement by Athanasius Kircher, Martino Martini and Edmond Halley in Early Modern Europe. Studies in the History of Natural Sciences, 2021, 40(1): 105-114.

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http://www.shns.ac.cn/     OR     http://www.shns.ac.cn/Y2021/V40/I1/105

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