is for Astrolabe

The astrolabe was invented for use in astronomy and astrology, but sailors started using it at sea. Sailors would use it to measure the sun to find latitude. The astrolabe was less accurate at sea than it was at land though.

is for Back Staff

The back staff was another tool that helped find latitude. The only problem was that you had to look at the sun or its shadow to use it.

is for Caravel

Caravel ships were smaller, faster ships used during the Age of Exploration. They had lots of uses, including being a pirate ship!

is for Dutch Ship

Dutch ships were used by explorers to travel to Asia and back with cargo.

is for Earth

Earth is the third planet in our solar system and the planet we live on.

It is a sphere with a diameter of 7,926 miles. The earth rotates around the sun in a shape called an elliptical. This takes 365 days, or a year.



is for Fresh Fruits

On ships, sailors started out with lots of fresh fruits and food to eat. They were important because after the fruits ran out, people started getting diseases.

is for Galileo

Galileo was a scientist and astronomer during the Renaissance.

He invented lots of things, including an early version of the thermometer, and he greatly improved the telescope

is for Heliocentrism

Heliocentrism is to revolve around the sun.

Our solar system

is heliocentric, as

Copernicus discovered

in 1532.

is for Integrated Electric Propulsion

Integrated Electric Propulsion is a modern technology. It uses gas generators to power ship motors. This helps to move the ships without it being as heavy or loud.

is for Kepler

Kepler was another scientist during the Renaissance. He made 3 laws of planetary motion. The first law is that planets orbit in an elliptical shape. The second is that if you have a line between the sun and planet, it will take the same to go equal distances. The third states that planets closer to the sun will orbit faster than planets further from the sun.

is for Lead Line

The lead line was another tool used by explorers. Lead lines were used to keep track of water depth so that accidents were avoided.

is for Magnetic Compass

Much like modern compasses, the compasses of the past were magnetized and showed the sailors what direction they were going.

is for Newton

Sir Issac Newton was a scientist and mathematician. He created the laws of motion and universal gravity, as well as calculus.

is for Ocean Currents

Ocean currents greatly affected early explorers. They had no way of controlling their ships, so they were instead moved by ocean currents and wind currents.