How can you determine the latitude of your house?

[wdlang]

can anyone determine the latitude of his house without using a GPS?

how people determine the position of a ship in the times of navigation?

this problem has baffled me for a long time.

 

[I like Serena]

Measure how high the northern pole star is above the horizon and bam!
You have your latitude.

Alternatively, measure how high the sun gets at its highest point on March 21st and you have your colatitude.
On another date you need to add a number from a table.

 

[wdlang]

Measure how high the northern pole star is above the horizon and bam!
You have your latitude.

Alternatively, measure how high the sun gets at its highest point on March 21st and you have your colatitude.
On another date you need to add a number from a table.

the first idea is very brilliant

but it has still a little bit flaw

the northen pole star is perfectly in the direction of the rotation axis of the earth

does not there exist a method without reference to anything beyond your scope?

 

[jtbell]

without reference to anything beyond your scope?

Do you mean mean without looking at the sky?

You might consider a Foucault pendulum.

With reference to your original question, "in times of navigation" people did look at the sky in order to determine their latitude, at least in the "Western world". That's what sextants were for.

 

[wdlang]

Do you mean mean without looking at the sky?

You might consider a Foucault pendulum.

With reference to your original question, "in times of navigation" people did look at the sky in order to determine their latitude, at least in the "Western world". That's what sextants were for.

ok. but could you determine your latitude in one minute? or even in real time?

suppose on a plane, the latitude is changing quickly all the time

 

[Vanadium 50]

What is exactly the problem you are asking?

I Like Serena gave you an answer, and you changed the question. Then Jtbell gave you an answer and you changed the question. Can you clearly define the question so we don't have a parade of answers and you replying to each one, "No, that's not it".