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A sextant is an instrument used to measure the angle between two visible objects. It is primarily used as a navigational instrument to determine the elevation of a celestial body above the horizon thereby allowing the observer to calculate a line of position (LOP) on the surface of the earth. With only one LOP, a navigator can be sure that his position is on that line somewhere, but he cannot know for sure where on that line he is. By combining additional LOPs (triangulation), navigators are able to determine their exact latitude and longitude.
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoThe sextant is part of a family of instruments with similar design and look and use. It is basically called a sextant because of the angle of the arc which is 60o and one sixth in latin is sextāns. Whereas the octant is at 45o and that is one eighth of a circle also the quintant and the quadrant are one fifth and one quarter or 72o and 90o
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoA sextant is primarily used to measure the angle between the horizon and a celestial object. However, it can be used to measure the angle between any objects.
Wiki User
∙ 7y agoSailors and navigators.
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoIt allows you navigational assistance.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoit isint
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What tool is used to determine the place of star?
Sextant.
What are some tools that Matthew henson used?
sextant
What is the navigational tool to find latitude?
That's the purpose of the sextant.
How do you maesure latitude?
Using a sextant, measure the angle between the horizon and the North Star.The angle of inclination on the sextant eyepiece will give you the Latitude that you are standing/sailing at.latitude is measured east and west of the Equator.
What made accurate navigation possible?
Sextant and clock or compass
What can you find out about sextant?
you can find sextant on history.com
What is the sextant used for?
you use a sextant to navigate.
How do you draw a sextant?
you draw a sextant by looking at googler in the images.
How do you use the word sextant in a sentence?
the sextant helped me navagate my way to alaska
Why sextant is named so?
as sextant consists a graduated circular arc that is of 60 degree so, arc forms one-sixth of a circle ,hence the name sextant
How many years sextant becomes a symbol of navigation?
how many years that the sextant become a symbol of navigation
Who built the sextant?
John Hadley and Thomas Godfrey independently built the octant (which became the sextant later)
What replaced the astrolabe?
The sextant
What has replaced the astrolabe?
The sextant
Did Columbus use a sextant?
Yes Christopher Columbus did use a sextant along with a compass, ampoletta, and a cross staff.
What instrument measures the horizon?
A sextant
How does a sextant work?
i guess planets
