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Article ID: CBB789426125

History and Critical Analysis of Fifteenth and Sixteenth Century Nautical Tables (2017)

van der Werf, Siebren (Author)

Journal for the History of Astronomy
Volume: 48
Issue: 2
Pages: 207-232

URI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0021828617705244

DOI: 10.1177/0021828617705244

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Analysis of fifteenth- and sixteenth-century solar tables which have been used in navigation, and of declination tables derived from them, reveals that much of the accepted history needs revision. In particular, the celebrated astronomical tables of Abraham Zacut contain systematic and accidental errors by which later tables may be identified as derived from them. The tables of Pedro Nunez and Martín Cortes are not their own, but have been copied from those of Philipp Imsser, which are usually, but incorrectly, attributed to his predecessor Johannes Stöffler. William Bourne used an incorrect conversion table to calculate his declinations and had to manipulate his data to hide it. Pedro de Medina’s Dutch translation by Marten Everaert has declination tables that fit neither the Alfonsine nor the Copernican scheme and are inconsistent within themselves. Also, the declination tables of Lucas Jansz. Waghenaer need amendment and those of Willem Jansz Blaeu are older than he suggests himself. The absolute accuracy of declination tables is assessed in retrospect by comparison with modern celestial mechanics programmes.

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