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Re: GPS and Jules Verne

From: <jcrovisier~at~free.fr>
Date: Thu, 03 Jan 2008 10:02:47 +0100
To: Jules Verne Forum <jvf~at~gilead.org.il>

J.V. used various reference meridians depending upon the context. Here he
used the Washington meridian. However, the maps which illustrate the Hetzel
editions are taken from French maps where the reference meridian is usually
the Paris meridian.

There is obviously an error in "De la Terre à la Lune" concerning the
coordinates of Stone's Hill. The French edition (Hetzel in-18, reproduced
in Gallica) reads:

"Cet emplacement est situé à trois cents toises au-dessus du niveau de
la mer par 27°7' de latitude et 5°7' de longitude ouest"

with the footnote:

"Au méridien de Washington. La différence avec le méridien de Paris est
de 79°22'. Cette longitude est donc en mesure française 83°25'."

Adding the longitudes, one would rather expect 84°29'. The published map
( http://jv.gilead.org.il/kelvin/talune/fig16.gif ) indeed shows a
position close to 83°.

The other, more recent editions of "De la Terre à la Lune" that I have
show the same error.

Jacques Crovisier


Selon Harry Hayfield <harryhayfield~at~googlemail.com>:

> BlankI would like to know just how accurate Jules's GPS locations are. The
> reason I am asking is that I remember there was quite a discussion about the
> accuracy of the GPS co-ordinates for Stones Hill and wondered if this
> applied to all GPS locations Jules writes about. As I am sure everyone knows
> when referring to Stones Hill he says:
>
> This spot is situated eighteen hundred feet above the level of the sea, in
> 27~at~ 7' N. lat. and 5@ 7' W. long. of the meridian of Washington. It appears
> to me by its rocky and barren character to offer all the conditions
> requisite for our experiment. On that plain will be raised our magazines,
> workshops, furnaces, and workmen's huts; and here, from this very spot,"
> said he, stamping his foot on the summit of Stones Hill, "hence shall our
> projectile take its flight into the regions of the Solar World
>
> If I understand it correctly he means 27° 7' North of the Equator and 5° 7'
> West of Washington DC the only problem with that is it's just to the north
> of the Bahamas! So therefore when Jules quotes GPS locations are they based
> on the Greenwich meridian or the Paris meridan?
>
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Received on Thu 03 Jan 2008 - 11:02:54 IST

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