Sextant
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A sextant is an instrument used to measure the angle between any two visible objects. Its primary use is to determine the angle between a celestial object and the horizon which is known as the object's altitude. Making this measurement is known as sighting the object, shooting the object, or taking a sight and it is an essential part of celestial navigation. The angle, and the time when it was measured, can be used to calculate a position line on a nautical or aeronautical chart. Common uses of the sextant include sighting the sun at solar noon and sighting Polaris at night, to find one's latitude (in northern latitudes). A sextant can also be held horizontally to measure the angle between any two landmarks which allows for calculation of a position on a chart. A sextant can also be used to measure the Lunar distance between the moon and another celestial object (e.g., star, planet) in order to determine Greenwich time which is important because it can then be used to determine the longitude.
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- Related: Mariner's astrolabe, Longitude by chronometer, Davis quadrant, Octant (instrument), Sextant (astronomical), Harold Gatty, Gago Coutinho, Intercept method, Latitude, Longitude, History of longitude, Navigation, Bris sextant
| Her Majesty's Nautical Almanac Office Her Majesty's Nautical Almanac Office www.hmnao.com - Web |
| The History of HM Nautical Almanac Office The History of HM Nautical Almanac Office astro.ukho.gov.uk/nao/history/ - Web |
| CD-Sextant - Build your own sextant CD-Sextant - Build your own sextant www.tecepe.com.br/nav/CDSextantProject.htm - Web |
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| Lunars web site. online calculation Lunars web site. online calculation www.historicalatlas.com/lunars - Web |
| Complete celnav theory book, including Lunars Complete celnav theory book, including Lunars www.celnav.de - Web |
