Travel: Stars vs. Hi-Tech Dependence

From: SaharaSafaris@yahoogroups.com
Date: 14 Jul 2015 11:23:24 -0700
Thanks Seif !

---In SaharaSafaris@yahoogroups.com, wrote :

Interesting question. I will ask today the pilots, what do they do if communications failed while they are in the air.

From: on behalf of "noranshf@... mailto:noranshf@... [SaharaSafaris]"
Reply-To:
Date: Tuesday, July 14, 2015 at 4:12 AM
To:
Subject: [SaharaSafaris Forum] Travel: Stars vs. Hi-Tech Dependence

Hello All,

I have a question or two, that I don't know how illiterate they might seem.

What if all our communication technologies (GPS, mobiles, email etc) came to a SUDDEN halt - because of maybe a solar flare hitting earth - will desert and sea professional long-distance travelers still be able to find their way via stars while travelling? Or has the reliance on stars as travel signposts eroded through time because of our tech advancement & dependence.

And do present-day desert nomads (who mostly have not been exposed to hi-tech) still rely on stars for long-distance travel? What about during day-time - how do they find their way? Or do they rely SOLELY on notable land-marks whose knowledge they have inherited from their ancestors?

Thanks..

FYI .. In 1895: http://www.space.com/7224-150-years-worst-solar-storm.html http://www.space.com/7224-150-years-worst-solar-storm.html

Thanks Seif !

From: SaharaSafaris@yahoogroups.com
Date: 23 Jul 2015 08:34:51 -0700

Many thanks !!

---In SaharaSafaris@yahoogroups.com, wrote :

Sea liners marine crew certainly learn all the traditional wasy of measuring locations. Even us desert safaris leaders play with this now and then. Sextants are kings of instruments. I even have one in home :)

As for how Bedouins manage, they actually are hesitant to rely on GPS. So they get it mostly by traditional methods: landmarks, sun and stars, tracking others, etc.

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android https://overview.mail.yahoo.com/mobile/?.src=Android

From:"Seif Allah Mohamed seif@... [SaharaSafaris]"
Date:Tue, Jul 14, 2015 at 3:28 PM
Subject:Re: [SaharaSafaris Forum] Travel: Stars vs. Hi-Tech Dependence

Interesting question. I will ask today the pilots, what do they do if communications failed while they are in the air.

From: on behalf of "noranshf@... [SaharaSafaris]"
Reply-To:
Date: Tuesday, July 14, 2015 at 4:12 AM
To:
Subject: [SaharaSafaris Forum] Travel: Stars vs. Hi-Tech Dependence

Hello All,

I have a question or two, that I don't know how illiterate they might seem.

What if all our communication technologies (GPS, mobiles, email etc) came to a SUDDEN halt - because of maybe a solar flare hitting earth - will desert and sea professional long-distance travelers still be able to find their way via stars while travelling? Or has the reliance on stars as travel signposts eroded through time because of our tech advancement & dependence.

And do present-day desert nomads (who mostly have not been exposed to hi-tech) still rely on stars for long-distance travel? What about during day-time - how do they find their way? Or do they rely SOLELY on notable land-marks whose knowledge they have inherited from their ancestors?

Thanks..

FYI .. In 1895: http://www.space.com/7224-150-years-worst-solar-storm.html http://www.space.com/7224-150-years-worst-solar-storm.html

From: SaharaSafaris@yahoogroups.com
Date: 25 Jul 2015 02:47:24 -0700
Wow – it just strikes me after reading these responses how our life is so dependent on the skies.

From the dawn of the civilization our early ancestors depended on it, and with all the great leaps that humanity has achieved (including conquering faraway lands, seas, and fairly recently crisscrossing the air and even sensing other galaxies) we are still deeply dependent.
For example: our food & clothes depend on photosynthesis, which in turn is dependent on the sun. There’s the stars for travelling and thus trade. Then there’s the lantern of our dark night skies. Soft and gentle it touches all…whether city dwellers, those at sea, or those seeking an oasis. Subhan ALLAH indeed !!

Speaking of the lantern, other questions pop up: what are the advantages of the lunar year? Why does it’s months’ days change from one year to the other…why 29, 30 but never 31 days? How does our night companion impact our ocean tides and hence…probably travel and maybe climate? etc

Anyways… the article reminded me of a Joseph Conrad novel I had read during high school and wish to reread it afresh. Its titled “Typhoon” if someone is interested in this genre of literature.

Finally, here is link for the history of the sextant (including our medieval impact): http://www.mat.uc.pt/~helios/Mestre/Novemb00/H61iflan.htm

Wow – it just strikes me after reading these responses how
our life is so dependent on the skies.

From the dawn of the civilization our
early ancestors depended on it, and with all the great leaps that humanity has
achieved (including conquering faraway lands, seas, and fairly recently
crisscrossing the air and even sensing other galaxies) we are still
deeply dependent.

For example: our food & clothes depend on
photosynthesis, which in turn is dependent on the sun. There’s the stars for
travelling and thus trade. Then there’s the lantern of our dark night skies.
Soft and gentle it touches all…whether city dwellers, those at sea, or those
seeking an oasis. Subhan ALLAH indeed !!

Speaking of the lantern, other questions pop up: what are
the advantages of the lunar year? Why does it’s months’ days change from one
year to the other…why 29, 30 but never 31 days? How does our night companion
impact our ocean tides and hence…probably travel and maybe climate? etc

Anyways… the article reminded me of a Joseph Conrad novel I
had read during high school and wish to reread it afresh. Its titled “Typhoon”
if someone is interested in this genre of literature.

Finally, here is link for the history of the sextant (including
our medieval impact): http://www.mat.uc.pt/~helios/Mestre/Novemb00/H61iflan.htm