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Explorers in the 1700s such as James Cook and Antoine de Bougainville used the sextant for celestial navigation during their voyages. This tool helped them determine their position at sea by measuring the angle between the horizon and a celestial body, such as the sun or stars.

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What kinds of navigational instruments did Renaissance explorers use?

Renaissance explorers used instruments such as the astrolabe, quadrant, compass, and cross-staff for navigation. These tools helped them to determine their position at sea by measuring the position of celestial objects and the horizon. Additionally, they used charts and maps to plot their course and track their progress.


What is the purpose of the horizon shades on a 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.


How does a sextant work?

A sextant is an instrument used in navigation to measure the angle between a celestial body (like the sun or a star) and the horizon. By determining this angle, along with the time of the measurement, a navigator can use trigonometry to calculate their position on the Earth's surface.


How did Lewis and Clark use a sextant?

Lewis and Clark used a sextant to determine their latitude by measuring the angle between the horizon and the sun or a star. This helped them navigate and map their route across uncharted territory during their expedition to the western United States.


Who used the sextant?

Navigating seafarers. in order to ascertain the height in degrees of the Sun above the Horizon at 12 noon. They are still used today , in ships that do not have electronic navigation aids. All navigating seafarers are trained to use a sextant in case of any breakdown in electronic gear on a ship.

Related Questions

What is the sextant used for?

you use a sextant to navigate.


What are some of the tools that were used in 16th century?

some of the tools used for exploration were the mariners quadrent, sextant, octant, compass, astrolabe, chronometer, chart weights, and get off your lazy bum and get a job!


What device was used to determine a ship's latitude?

Sextant


What instrument is used to measure a the angle of a star?

A sextant.


What tool is used to determine the place of star?

Sextant.


What was Lewis and clarks most used weapons?

the sextant


When was the sextant used?

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 angular distance of the star above the horizon is then read from the graduated arc of the sextant


What tools did he use on his journey?

He used a compass and a sextant on his expedition. :)


What device is used to measure the angle of the sun?

A sextant, possibly.


What is the difference between a 15th century caravel and a 20th century?

caravel is a small, highly maneuverable, two- or three-masted lateen-rigged ship, created by the Portuguese and used also by them and by the Spanish for long voyages of exploration from the 15th century. It's derived from the qarib used by Muslim Andalusian explorers in the 13th century.[2] caravel is a small, highly maneuverable, two- or three-masted lateen-rigged ship, created by the Portuguese and used also by them and by the Spanish for long voyages of exploration from the 15th century. It's derived from the qarib used by Muslim Andalusian explorers in the 13th century.[2] caravel is a small, highly maneuverable, two- or three-masted lateen-rigged ship, created by the Portuguese and used also by them and by the Spanish for long voyages of exploration from the 15th century. It's derived from the qarib used by Muslim Andalusian explorers in the 13th century.[2]


Why sextant is named so?

The term "sextant" comes from the Latin word "sextans," meaning one-sixth. This refers to the instrument's ability to measure angles up to one-sixth of a circle (60 degrees). The sextant is commonly used in navigation to determine the altitude of celestial bodies.


Why sextant used in sea exploration?

So you can stay happy and feel good