As the airplane led the way for arctic travel, it was not until the mid twentieth century that old navigation practices were discarded, and real progress in safe arctic travel was achieved. The Mercator chart and reliance on rhumb line tracks which gave a completely false impression of the arctic landscape was abandoned. A new chart was adopted which accurately portrayed polar regions, displayed near great circle tracks, and facilitated a grid that overcame the converging meridians. The time-honored magnetic compass was replaced by directional gyros and celestial monitoring techniques that brought about the ability, so long lacking, to maintain a desired heading.

The authors were intimately involved in solving the problems of high latitude navigation and the discovery of the new techniques necessary for safe travel in these regions. Their book is a record of their activities, and a history of earlier attempts at polar navigation. Many of the instruments such as astrocompasses, sextants, and sun trackers are discussed and explained with photographs and diagrams. HC, 2009, 280 pages. SW 1.4 lbs.

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