Scandinavian sailors could accurately estimate the height of the Sun and the direction in which it was.
According to archaeologists, the Scandinavian sailors could accurately estimate the height of the Sun and the direction in which it was, despite the thick layer of clouds. For this they used a transparent mineral that splits the beam in two (this property is called double refraction). This crystal is, for example, Icelandic spar (a variety of calcite). Due to its optical properties, it allows you to filter ambient light entering from different locations of the cloudy sky.
Drops of water vapor in the Earth’s atmosphere refract the sunlight, scattering it and making polarized. The result is bright, becoming the sky, making it indistinguishable to the direct rays of the Sun. According to the hypothesis of scientists, and turning the Iceland spar in front of the eyes at a certain angle, it is possible to identify areas where there is only ambient light and, therefore, to find that part of the sky where there are direct rays.
To prove the assumption about the use of Viking “sun compass”, the Hungarian researchers tested several types of crystals with double refraction — calcite, cordierite and tourmaline. They were tested in 1080 embodiments, the position of the Sun above the horizon and varying degrees of cloud cover, which was reproduced in the laboratory in the planetarium. The results showed that calcite was allowed to determine the location of fluorescent lights with the greatest accuracy.
Scientists have concluded that the obtained results testify in favor of the hypothesis. In addition, the Vikings probably used minerals towards the morning and during the summer solstice, when their effectiveness was greatest.
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