Thanks Hanger, for the illumination on the simpler...

2007-05-04T08:09:00.000+01:00

Thanks Hanger, for the illumination on the simpler calculation method.

Actually, it's pretty easy to work out the distanc...

2007-05-04T00:16:00.000+01:00

Actually, it's pretty easy to work out the distance directly, just using a calcuator. Using the great circle formula over this short distance, particularly with the quoted precision, is overkill.

First find the differences in the coordinates:

N29° 50.36' - N29° 50.174' = 0.186'
E048° 43.08' - E048° 43.544' = 0.464'

Multiply the longitudinal difference by the cosine of the latitude (which is about 30° so the cos is about 0.866) giving about 0.402 minutes.

Now use Pythagorous to find the angle subtended at the centre of the Earth between the two points, i.e., the length of the hypotenuse of the right angle triangle (sort of) formed by the latitude difference and the longitude difference.

0.186² = 0.034596
0.402² = 0.161604

Sum them to get 0.1962.

Take the square root, about: 0.443 minutes.

One arc minute on the surface of the Earth is about 1 nautical mile so the positions are, to only slightly excess precision, 0.443 NM apart. A NM is 1852 metres so that's 820 m.

If one enlarges and examines the photograph closel...

2007-05-03T19:13:00.000+01:00

If one enlarges and examines the photograph closely, one notices that the ship envolved is probably a tanker not a ferry nor a car-transport ship.

Comments on Casualty Monitor: Ministry of Defence Letter Confirms Photograph Fal...

Thanks Hanger, for the illumination on the simpler...

Actually, it's pretty easy to work out the distanc...

If one enlarges and examines the photograph closel...