Even the best Eagle Scout prefers to pilot during the day . The Vikings , obviously , would have laughed at such a penchant — according to new inquiry , the North Atlantic seafarers ’ sun compass was so ripe it even worked after dark , thanks to clever technology and mystical crystals .
Ina Royal Society newspaper issue this week , a squad of researchers examined the Uunartoq magnetic disc , a fragment of a Viking sunlight reach give away in a medieval convent in Greenland well-nigh 70 year ago . First thought to be a decorative object , the 2.8 - column inch disk was later assumed to be part of a compass that used a missing fundamental while to cast a shadow showing cardinal guidance .
The Hungarian research squad did n’t purchase that hypothesis , for two reasons . First , they say the Uunartoq disc ’s dimensions and markings make it “ far from optimum ” as a solar compass . secondly , and perhaps more importantly , a dewy-eyed solar compass would n’t explicate the mythical “ aventurine , ” a apparently magical crystal mentioned in Norse folklore that could situate the Sunday ’s position at nighttime or on a cloudy daythat scientist recently discovered in reality subsist .
http://gawker.com/5988881/have-scientists-found-the-sunstone-the-mythical-viking-super-compass/all
Let ’s dig into those watch glass for a second . Made of a character of calcite known as Iceland spar , thebirefringentmineral creates a unique formula when scupper to the Dominicus ’s ultraviolet light rays , even if those ray are come from a Dominicus that ’s dip below the horizon .
TheHungarian team theorizesthat a pair of sunstones would aid a Viking sailing master locate the position of the hidden sun . Then , a specially - designed shadow stick would be place on the phonograph recording to judge where an real phantom would fall if the sun was visible . The outer boundary of the imaginary apparition would then be used for navigation .
In examination , the squad was able to locate true north within a 4 - level tolerance of misplay using the twilight compass , comparable to the magnetised needle grasp you might have in your pocket . What ’s more , the team estimates the method acting would work for as long as 50 arcminute after sundown , making the Uunartoq ring useful in sunshine and near - duskiness .
Makes you feel a short spot spoiled using your smartphone to sail your own Ithiel Town , does n’t it ? [ Proceedings of the Royal Society AviaLiveScience ]
Image : minutes of the Royal Society A ; Balazs Bernath ; Alexandra Farkas ; Denes Szaz ; Miklos Blaho ; Adam Egri ; Andras Barta ; Susanne Akesson ; and Gabor Horvath
medievalSailingVikings
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