Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-10-19
HOW A MAN KNOWS
HE'S At THE POLE
Easy theoretically to Tell, but
Hard Practically.
WORK WITH ICY FINGERS.

Weather Conditions Make Taking of
Observations Difficult-Latitude Is
Ascertained by Means of the Sun or
Stars.
According to the scientists. it would
be easy theoretically for an explorer
to ascertain the fact that he had
reached 10 degrees north latitude,
or the north pole. Practically, how
ever, the determination Of the fact is
not without much difficulty. Owing
to the intense cold aud other adverse
meteorological conditions. handling Of
the instruments needed for observa-
tons is a matter Of great hardship.
In telling how an explorer could
learn that he was at the north pole
Professor Milton Updegraff. professor
Of mathematics. United States navy,
and director of the Nautical Almanac,
said: u
AN explorer approaching the pole
at any time Oh April II, when the sun
is above the horizon to an observer at
the pole, would make observations Of
the height of the sun. At the same
time he would take the time on his
thermometer or his watch.
ION arriving at the pole he would
continue to make such observations for
perhaps a day or longer. making an
observation once every hour or two.
Such observations actually made un-
der the conditions prevailing there
would when examined by an expert as
tronomer probably contain tolerably
conclusive evidence of their genuine
ness.
Look at Stars Instead Of Sun.
IAN explorer approaching the pole
from October to February, when the
SUN is below the horizon at the pole.
might observe the stars instead Of the
sun. -.
ION April 81. 1908, the declination
Of the sun-that is. its distance from
the equator-would be little less than
12 degrees. To an observer at the
pole the atmosphere would slightly In!
crease in it's apparent height above the
horizon. The motion Of the sun in
declination ut that time is about fifty
one seconds of arc per hour, or about
twenty minutes. This Is equivalent to
one-third Of degree a day, or abont
two-thirds Of the diameter Of the sun
itself. -
ITO an observer standing exactly at
the pole the sun would during the
day move around the horizon at an
altitude Of about II degrees, the
height slowly increasing as the decli-
nation Of the sun increases by one
third Of a degree q day. Ii the OBJ
server were provided with q sextant
and mercurial horizon he would prob
ably measure the altitude Of the SUN
hour by hour, and, aside from the
above mentioned gradual increase 10,
the declination of the sun, the altitude
of the sun should remain the same;
then the observer would know he was
stationed at the pole.
Can Tell Almost Exactly.
In approaching the pole and at q
distance of. say, sixty minutes from 1t
the path Of the sun would be some
what inclined to the horizon, but on
approaching more nearly. to within
1900 feet, an approximation Of the
described condition would be found.
Upon an explorers ability to make
these observations with benumbed
hands. bis facilities for conveying his
instruments and his ability to over
come the most discouraging conditions
for recording them would rest his
claim to the discovery Of the north
pole" ..