When famous explorer Ferdinand Magellan set sail across the globe in 1519, navigation was a tough business. If you really needed navigation skills, then there was a good chance that you were probably some sort of sailor. To this day, we have not fully conquered the treacherous waters and unpredictable nature of sailing the oceans, but we have clearly improved in one crucial area: navigation.
We're reminded of that fact every time we start the car and the GPS device blinks on. Navigating for us is easy - we can go across countries without having to think twice about it. But in Magellan's days, other tactics (like using the stars at night) were necessary. So what if you were a much more savvy user of navigation? What would you be able to accomplish then? Let's go old-school and take a look at the ancient art and science of navigation.
Your Latitude and Longitude
It's easy to get your latitude and longitude simply using your iPhone these days. But it's so easy that we usually just think of them as simple coordinates, not necessarily the important measurements they really are. Your latitude and longitude say a lot about your position on the globe, and given the Earth's robust spherical shape, that can say a lot about what you'll expect to encounter.
Let's take a closer look:
- Latitude tells your location in respect to being north or south of the equator. If you're at +45 degrees latitude, you're about north between the equator and the north pole. If you're -45 degrees latitude, you're the opposite - halfway to the south pole. Most of us don't normally think about the hemisphere we're in because it's so patently obvious: when it's summer in Australia and Argentina, it's winter in Andorra and Amsterdam.
- Longitude deals deals with your east-west location. This measurement is a little more arbitrary, but humanity has seen it fit to declare an "equator" of sorts with the Prime Meridian, which travels north and south through Greenwich, England. A negative longitude means you're likely in the western hemisphere.
If you ever come across someone's blog and it shows you their location, you should have a general idea of their location simply based on reading their latitude and longitude. You may not need this information to find your way across the Pacific ocean, but you can always impress your friends by quickly running the geometry of 0 degrees longitude in your head.
Planning a Trip Well
When the Magellan expedition returned to Europe, they discovered to their surprise that they had actually incorrectly calculated the date and were one day off from standard time, despite having correctly tabulated each day in their calendars.
As it turns out, because they sailed west (and toward the sunset) so often, the explorers had actually been living through different amounts of time each day than someone who was stationary.
You, too, should be mindful of the odd things that can happen while traveling. Make sure you're at a flight on time by thinking about the time zones. Understand that what's happening in Singapore isn't the same as what's happening in New York at any given moment.
Also, make sure you plan ahead to make long trips more comfortable. Don't underestimate your need for excitement, rest, and, of course, sustenance. A five-hour train ride may not sound like a lot of traveling, but it will feel like that when you realize you haven't brought anything to read.