What tools did Vespucci use for navigation?

Answer 1

Shockingly, Amerigo Vespucci had access to very few of the modern innovations that are taken for granted today. In order to calculate longitude, one requires very precise measurements of time, to within approximately three seconds per day. With precise timing, and extensive tables giving known sunrise and sunset times throughout the year, one can estimate rather precisely their longitudinal distance from the known location. Though this was widely known, it was not until the year 1730 C.E. that John Harisson invented a mechanical clock movement with enough precision to accurately estimate longitude; such ultra-accurate (for their day) clocks were known as marine chronometers. Until the invention of GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites, this was the only way to determine longitude. So, Vespucci obviously lacked this advantage in the 15th century.

It is far easier to calculate Latitude, however. Until the dawn of the GPS-era, the sextant was a tool used to calculate the angle of the sun at mid-day; the elevation angle of the sun, when precisely measured, will tell how far one is from the equator (where the elevation would be 90 degrees). Although the sextant was conceived by Sir Isaac newton during the 17th century, a predecessor of the sextant, the mariner's astrolabewas a more crude instrument that could measure this angle of elevation, though with far less accuracy. The earliest date held for the invention of the astrolabe is around 1295 C.E., but the most reliable dates place it in common use at the end of the 15th century, so given Vespucci's status as one of the premier explorers of his time, he would certainly have been able to use an astrolabe on his journeys.

The magnetic compass of course dates from antiquity, and had been in common use for thousands of years prior to Amerigo Vespucci's voyages, so he certainly would have know which direction he was travelling; further, with knowledge of his heading and an estimate of his speed, he would have used dead reckoning to predict how far his vessel would travel each day.

A cartographer by trade, Vespucci would also have not only relied on previous (even incomplete) maps in his possession, but also his own updated maps, which he meticulously created during the voyages. He would have also measured water depth periodically using a plumb line (a lead weight tied to a rope), to determine the relative direction to land; the ocean gradually deepens farther from major continents, and rises again abruptly near the continental shelf. Independent of his instruments, Vespucci would at times be able to discern the direction to land.

Finally, as a supplement, Amerigo Vespucci would likely have relied on stellar navigation. An extensive knowledge of astronomy and detailed star charts would have assisted Vespucci in estimating (very generally) his latitude and compass heading. Certain constellations are more or less visible during different parts of the night (and times of the year), and will climb to higher elevations in the sky at different latitudes. Thus, Vespucci would have very carefully recorded these differences for navigation, but it cannot be overemphasized that this type of navigational reckoning is limited in the extreme: as one of the first explorers in the region, Amerigo Vespucci would likely only have been able to tell that he was, for example, in the Southern Hemisphere and very, very far from home.

Answer 2

Amerigo used the Astrolabe and the Quadrant

Answer 3

An astrolabe. An astrolabe was used to determine an explorer's location based on the position of the stars.

Answer 4

i think he used the stars, cross bar...

Answer 5

He used an astrolabe and a quadrant.

Answer 6

he used nothing no one cares