MYSTIC

SEAPORT

Common Core State Standard: ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.4 • ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.5• ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.6 • ELA-Literacy.RI.5.1 • ELA-Literacy.RI.5.2 • ELA-Literacy.RI.5.3

Written by Brian Koehler Director of the Treworgy Planetarium at Mystic Seaport

In last year’s articles, we explored the history of the Charles W. Morgan; the who, what, when, where, and why of whaling; and how our perceptions of whales
and whaling have changed over time. In this first installment for this year, we will examine how a vessel like the Morgan would find its way across the oceans,
and find its way back home when the voyage was concluded.
In the 19th century, long before the advent of GPS and modern navigation technology, ships relied on a series of tools, called nautical instruments, to help
them find their way. To ensure that they remained on course, the officers of the Morgan would use these tools to pinpoint their location on the Earth, measured
using a series of coordinates called latitude (how far north or south of the Equator you are) and longitude (how far east or west of the Prime Meridian you are).
Once their location was determined, a chart would help them plot their course, and a compass would show them the direction in which they were heading. A
chronometer provided the Morgan with an accurate timepiece, since traditional clocks of the time were designed with pendulums that would be thrown off by
the rolling waves of the open seas. Finally, angle-measuring instruments called quadrants or sextants were used. In order for all of the tools of the time to
work properly, one more element was needed… the stars!
By taking precise measurements of the position of stars at specific times on specific dates, captains and mates were able to determine their precise location on
the globe. In the northern hemisphere, they could locate Polaris, the North Star, within the constellation of Ursa Minor (the “little bear”). The officers would
then use their quadrant or sextant to measure the angle between Polaris and the horizon. The measurement of this angle equals the ship’s current latitude,
how far north of the Equator the vessel would be. At the North Pole, Polaris can be found 90* north of the horizon, and right at the Equator it is 0* north of the
horizon. However, below the Equator in the southern hemisphere, Polaris cannot be seen (it is below the horizon in this part of the world) and so other stars
were needed for navigation there.
Provided that skies were clear enough to take celestial measurements, officers would document their latitude and longitude daily in the official records of the
voyage – the logbook of the Charles W. Morgan. Examining these logbooks can reveal the impact of navigation and the stars on the crew. For example, in May
of 1886, the Morgan was on her way home from her 12th whaling voyage, much of which was spent in the southern Pacific Ocean. On May 19, 1886 the ves-
sel was located at 3* north latitude, and the vessel’s official logbook entry for the day contains the following passage: “Today has been very fine with the wind
at N-NE most of the time but very light. Saw the N. Star for the first time.” Sailing all around the world, the whalers aboard the Morgan bore witness to the
ever changing position of the stars in the night sky. After years away from their families, crossing the equator and sighting the North Star must have been a
welcome sight to the crew, as it may have sent the message to all aboard that home was not so far away.

*Ships are referred to as ‘she’ in nautical tradition,

though the exact reason why is unknown.

C
Literature, Art & Music
Did You Know onnections
• While there is no star bright enough to be considered the “South Star”, navigation in • Mystic Seaport, the Museum of America and the Sea, boasts the
the southern hemisphere is aided by a constellation called Crux, commonly referred to as second-largest collection of nautical instruments in the world.
the “Southern Cross”. The longer face of this cross-shaped formation of stars points in the Visit: http://educators.mysticseaport.org/sets/navigation/ to see
general direction of celestial south, and thus could be used in similar ways to Polaris in the examples of the compasses, chronometers, sextants, and other
northern hemisphere. tools in the Museum’s collection.
• The difference between sextants and quadrants? A sextant’s arc
• While our sun does not rise precisely due east nor set precisely due west, the familiar
measures up to one-sixth of a circle (60*), while a quadrant can
constellation of Orion the Hunter contains a very special star that does. Mintaka, which is
measure up to one-fourth of a circle (90*). Have you ever used
the upper-most of Orion’s three “belt stars”, does appear to rise precisely due east and set
a protractor in math class? That plastic
precisely due west, and so watching this star rise and/or set can reveal the cardinal com-
semi-circle with angle markings on it
pass directions of north, south, east, and west.
accomplishes nearly the same task as a
• Celestial navigation is not a skill of the past. These techniques are still used today by sextant or a quadrant! To build your own
organizations such as the United States Coast Guard. Since modern GPS technology can quadrant using a protractor, drinking
fail without warning, simple navigation skills are crucial even for recreational boaters, to straw, and other simple materials, visit:
ensure proper boater safety. http://educators.mysticseaport.org/static/
connections/classroom_pdfs/quadrant_
activity.pdf.