Murismail compass
A fascinating topic!
Murismail Compass is a type of navigation instrument that was used in the 15th to 17th centuries, particularly during the Age of Exploration. It was a combination of a compass and a astrolabe, designed to help navigators determine their latitude (position north or south of the equator) and longitude (position east or west of a reference meridian).
Here's how it worked:
- The compass part of the Murismail Compass was a traditional magnetic compass, which indicated the direction of the Earth's magnetic field.
- The astrolabe part was a rotating disk with a sighting telescope and a graduated circle. The telescope was used to measure the angle between the celestial body (such as the Sun or a star) and the horizon.
- By using the compass to determine the direction of the magnetic field, and the astrolabe to measure the angle between the celestial body and the horizon, navigators could calculate their latitude.
The Murismail Compass was an improvement over earlier navigation instruments because it allowed navigators to determine their latitude more accurately. However, it still had limitations, such as the need for clear skies and the difficulty of measuring the angle between the celestial body and the horizon.
The Murismail Compass was widely used by European explorers and navigators during the Age of Exploration, including famous figures such as Vasco da Gama, Ferdinand Magellan, and Christopher Columbus. It played a significant role in the discovery of new lands and the establishment of trade routes around the world.
Today, the Murismail Compass is mostly of interest to historians and collectors of navigation instruments. However, its legacy can be seen in the development of more advanced navigation instruments, such as the sextant and the GPS.