Marine Chronometer

In order to accurately measure longitude, one must record the precise time of a sextant sighting (down to the second, if possible). Various types of chronometers are widely used.
The spring-driven marine chronometer is a precision timepiece used aboard ship to provide accurate time for celestial observations.A chronometer differs from a spring-driven watch principally in that it contains a variable lever device to maintain even pressure on the mainspring, and a special balance designed to compensate for temperature variations.A spring-driven chronometer is set approximately to Greenwich mean time (GMT) and is not reset until the instrument is overhauled and cleaned, usually at three-year intervals. The difference between GMT and chronometer time is carefully determined and applied as a correction to all chronometer readings..Spring-driven chronometers must be wound at about the same time each day.. At maximum intervals of about three years, a spring-driven chronometer should be sent to a chronometer repair shop for cleaning and overhaul.Quartz crystal marine chronometers have replaced spring-driven chronometers aboard many ships because of their greater accuracy.They are maintained on GMT directly from radio time signals.This eliminates chronometer error and watch error corrections.. Should the second hand be in error by a readable amount, it can be reset electrically.The basic element for time generation is a quartz crystal oscillator. The quartz crystal is temperature compensated and is hermetically sealed in an evacuated envelope.. A calibrated adjustment capability is provided to adjust for the aging of the crystal.The chronometer is designed to operate for a minimum of 1 year on a single set of batteries..A good marine chronometer has a built-in push button battery test meter. The meter face is marked to indicate when the battery should be replaced. The chronometer continues to operate and keep the correct time for at least 5 minutes while the batteries are changed. The chronometer is designed to accommodate the gradual voltage drop during the life of the batteries while maintaining accuracy requirements..A chronometer should not be removed from its case to time sights.. Observations may be timed and ship’s clocks set with a comparing watch, which is set to chronometer time and taken to the bridge wing for recording sight times..In practice, a wrist watch coordinated to the nearest second with the chronometer will be adequate..A stop watch, either spring wound or digital, may also be used for celestial observations.. In this case, the watch is started at a known GMT by chronometer, and the elapsed time of each sight added to Navthis to obtain GMT of the sight.All chronometers and watches should be checked regularly with a radio time signal.. Times and frequencies of radio time signals are listed in publications such as Radio igational Aids.