The primary use of a sextant is to measure the angle between an astronomical object and the horizon for the purposes of celestial navigation The estimation of this angle, the altitude, is known as sighting or shooting the object, or taking a sight A sextant is a navigation instrument used to measure the angles between celestial bodies and the horizon It works by aligning the index mirror with the celestial body and reflecting its image onto the horizon mirror. The meaning of sextant is an instrument for measuring angular distances used especially in navigation to observe altitudes of celestial bodies (as in ascertaining latitude and longitude). Sextant, instrument for determining the angle between the horizon and a celestial body such as the sun, the moon, or a star, used in celestial navigation to determine latitude and longitude
The device consists of an arc of a circle, marked off in degrees, and a movable radial arm pivoted at the A device used on a ship or aircraft for measuring angles, such as those between stars or that… Sextant a sextant is a navigational instrument that uses a telescope and an angular scale to calculate latitude and longitude Making a measurement with a sextant is called sighting the object or taking a sight The optical instruments called sextants have been used as navigation aids for centuries, especially by seafarers The sextant replaced the astrolabe, which was used by ancient.
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