Ancient Greek Computer a Weather Forecaster?

Matthew Redmond ( (no email) )
Wed, 2 Feb 2000 22:04:33 +1300

Hello all,

In the latest Nexus magazine out this month is an interview with
astrometeorologist Jennifer Lawson. Astrometerology, besides being a long
word, is used to "forecast weather by studying the angular positions of the
Sun, Moon and planets in relation to each other and to the Earth. Their
combined influences disrupt and disturb Earth's atmosphere, affecting our
weather patterns."

The article goes into more depth, and might eventually pop up on
www.nexusmagazine.com web site.

Anyway, I was walking around the house after reading the article when I got
a flash of the Ancient Greek Computer in my head. (I found more info
http://www.giant.net.au/users/rupert/kythera/kythera3.htm )

"In 1901 divers working off the isle of Antikythera found the remains of a
clocklike mechanism 2,000 years old. The mechanism now appears to have been
a device for calculating the motions of stars and planets"

Now apparently people have been wondering what this device, which I think
was found on an ancient ship wreck (can't be sure at the moment) and some
thoughts were that it could have been used for navigation.

But, what if was using the principles of Astrometerology, i.e. actually used
as a long range weather forecasting device? Surely this would be a
wonderful addition on board a ship, much more useful than for navigation
purposes, which in those days I would assume more navigators on ships
wouldn't need one, and if they did they would be out of a job.

-Matt.

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