Obviously, that depends on your standard of accuracy. The sextant is accurate enough to allow you to navigate from where you are to where you want to be. It may not be as accurate at GPS, but it is accurate enough for its intended purpose.
Sextant
Sextant.
The navigational tool to find latitude is a sextant, which uses the angle of the sun or stars above the horizon to determine the observer's position on Earth. This angle corresponds to the observer's latitude.
sextant, compass, globe, longitude, latitudeThe compass rose on a map.
The sextant.
The sextant was developed in the 18th century, building on earlier navigational instruments. While no single person is credited with its invention, important contributions were made by John Hadley and Thomas Godfrey, who independently created the reflecting octant in the 1730s, which laid the groundwork for the sextant. The sextant itself was later refined and became a crucial tool for navigation at sea.
A sextant was a crucial tool for navigators during the Age of Exploration, allowing them to measure the angle between celestial bodies and the horizon. By determining these angles, sailors could calculate their latitude and, with additional tools, their longitude. This capability significantly improved their ability to navigate open waters, leading to more accurate mapping of the world's oceans and coastlines. Ultimately, the sextant contributed to safer and more efficient sea voyages, facilitating exploration and trade.
sextant
The GPS (global positioning system) satellite is far more accurate and easy to use. As to which is more important, that is a tough question, and depends upon your circumstances. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sextant
The horizon shades on a sextant are used to block out excess light from the sun or other bright sources on the horizon, making it easier to take accurate measurements of celestial objects such as stars or planets. They help to reduce glare and improve visibility when using the sextant for navigation or celestial observations.
you can find sextant on history.com
you use a sextant to navigate.