Astrology questions

[hcobb]

Originally Posted by Shostak

Astronomy and longitude don't interact that way without an accurate chronometer.

The "accurate chronometer" is the instant communications provided by magic.

[Shostak]

Originally Posted by hcobb

The "accurate chronometer" is the instant communications provided by magic.

That won't be enough on cloudy days, because the person at the reference point won't have any way of telling what time it is without a chronometer.

[Skarg]

You also need something to accurately measure angles in the sky. And if your version if Cidri has little curvature (e.g. because you think it is literally a sphere of massive size) then the effects of latitude are proportionally smaller and more difficult to measure accurately. If your version of Cidri is flat, there would be not latitude effects to measure.

[hcobb]

The point remains that astronomy (as in measuring angles from local North and Up) combined with instant communications would quickly resolve which case applied.

Unless of course the world is Non-Euclidean. Then your astronomers would lose so many SAN points that they might as well be astrologers.

[Shostak]

Could you please explain how instant communication will avail in determining East/West distance from an established reference point if either party does not know what time it is and cannot see the heavens?

[hcobb]

Originally Posted by Shostak

cannot see the heavens?

If you can't look up you're not practicing Astronomy.

If the skies are always cloudy for years on end then blame the wizards.

[Shostak]

Well, one of them is practicing astronomy.