Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 16, 2026
06:48
Surface Mapping of Earth-like Exoplanets using Single Point Light Curves
Published on: May 10, 2020
4.0K
North error estimation based on solar elevation errors in the third step of sky-polarimetric Viking navigation
Dénes Száz1, Alexandra Farkas2, András Barta3
1Environmental Optics Laboratory, Department of Biological Physics, Physical Institute , Eötvös University , Pázmány sétány 1, 1117 Budapest, Hungary.
Proceedings. Mathematical, Physical, and Engineering Sciences
|August 6, 2016
Summary
Viking navigation accuracy was tested using sky polarization. The best navigators had half the error of the worst, with ideal conditions found at sunrise and sunset.
Area of Science:
- Navigation Science
- Archaeoastronomy
- Human Perception
Background:
- The accuracy of sky-polarimetric navigation, a proposed Viking navigation method, remains largely unquantified.
- Previous studies assessed the initial steps of this method in controlled environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the accuracy of the third step in sky-polarimetric Viking navigation.
- To determine the potential for navigational errors based on solar elevation and individual performance.
Main Methods:
- A planetarium experiment was conducted with 10 participants estimating solar elevation angles.
- Participant errors were analyzed to calculate North deviation errors for specific dates (solstice, equinox).
- Performance was assessed for individuals with the best, worst, and most variable error rates.
Main Results:
- 48% of all estimations were accurate within ±1°.
- North errors varied significantly between individuals, with the best navigator being twice as accurate as the worst.
- Maximal North errors ranged from 23.8° to 73.7° depending on solar elevation and individual skill.
Conclusions:
- High solar elevations, common during midday, can lead to substantial North errors in sky-polarimetric navigation.
- Optimal conditions for this navigation method are during low solar elevations, such as shortly after sunrise or before sunset.
- Individual differences in performance significantly impact the reliability of this ancient navigation technique.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:26Errors in Global Positioning System
389
Global Positioning System (GPS) technology has revolutionized navigation and positioning, but its accuracy is often compromised by various errors. These errors, stemming from environmental, satellite, and receiver-related factors, require careful mitigation to ensure reliable performance across applications.Atmospheric ErrorsGPS signals travel through the Earth’s ionosphere and troposphere, introducing delays which affect accuracy. The ionosphere is strongly influenced by charged particles,...
389
01:24Polar Coordinates
475
The polar coordinate system offers an alternative to the Cartesian coordinate system for specifying points in a plane, using a distance and an angle instead of x and y coordinates. This system is particularly advantageous in situations involving circular or rotational symmetry, such as in physics or engineering problems involving waves, oscillations, or orbital paths.Defining Polar CoordinatesIn polar coordinates, a point is represented as P(r, ��), where r is the radial distance...
475
01:17Common Leveling Mistakes and Errors
568
A survey team is tasked with determining the elevation difference between points Point A and Point B, separated by uneven terrain. They use a leveling instrument and a leveling rod.Common MistakesMisreading the Rod: During a backsight reading at Point A, the instrumentman observes the rod partially obscured by tall grass. Instead of reading 1.135 m, they mistakenly record 1.735 m due to the misalignment of the crosshair with the wrong graduation. This error adds 0.600 m to all subsequent...
568
01:19Azimuths and Bearings
839
Azimuths and bearings are essential concepts in surveying, providing methods to express the direction of a line relative to a meridian. Azimuths refer to the clockwise angle measured from the north end of a reference meridian to the given line, ranging from zero to 360 degrees. This method gives a comprehensive directional reference within a full 360-degree circle, making it a straightforward way to communicate direction in various fields, including navigation, cartography, and...
839
01:12Adjusting a Traverse
420
In the site survey of a four-sided traverse, internal angles are essential to ensure geometric accuracy. The survey revealed that the sum of the measured internal angles was 359 degrees and 48 minutes, which is 12 minutes less than the expected 360 degrees. This discrepancy signals an error likely arising from measurement inaccuracies during the fieldwork.To rectify this error, the adjustment process involved distributing the 12-minute shortfall equally across the four internal angles. By...
420
01:29Polar Equations of Conics
302
A conic section can be defined in polar coordinates as the set of all points whose distance from a fixed point, known as the focus, bears a constant ratio to their distance from a fixed line, known as the directrix. This constant ratio is called the eccentricity. This definition unifies all types of conic sections—ellipses, parabolas, and hyperbolas—under a single framework. When the focus is positioned at the origin of the polar coordinate system, a single polar equation can...
302