The Science of Navigation

In today's world of online maps and travel directions delivered wirelessly to hand-held devices, getting from place to place requires little thought from most of us and mdash;which is a good thing, since accurate navigation can be tricky. Get your bearings with Mark Denny and mdash;an expert at explaining scientific concepts to the non-technical reader and mdash;in this all-encompassing look at the history and science of navigation.Denny's tour kicks off with key facts about the earth and how its physical properties affect travel. He discusses cartography and early mapmakers, revealing fascinating tidbits such as the fact that the direction of true north, as well as of magnetic north, changes with time, and details the evolution of navigation from the days of coastal piloting to GPS and other modern-day technologies. Denny explains the scientific breakthroughs in accessible, at times amusing, terms and provides an insightful look at their effects on societies, cultures, and human advancement. Throughout, he frames the long history of navigation with the amazing tales of such people as Pytheas the Greek and Francis Drake and of such discoveries as the magnetic compass and radio direction finding.Whether you have an interest in orienteering and geocaching or want to know more about the critical role navigation has played in human survival and progress since ancient people learned to use lodestones, The Science of Navigation is for you. With it you'll finally understand the why of wayfinding.