👉 Longitude engineering, or more specifically, the development of accurate maritime longitude determination, is a critical advancement in navigation that enables sailors to pinpoint their exact location on Earth's surface at sea. Prior to its refinement, determining longitude was a significant challenge due to the limitations of celestial navigation and timekeeping. The breakthrough came with John Harrison's marine chronometer in the 18th century, which allowed for precise time measurement at sea. By comparing the local solar time (determined by a sextant) with the time at a known reference point (like Greenwich, England), sailors could calculate their longitude. This innovation transformed maritime navigation, making long-distance sea travel safer and more efficient, and laid the groundwork for modern GPS technology.
