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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.

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lenpollock

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3mo ago

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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.


What 1700th century explorers used the sextant?

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.


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.


What is the the least count of sextant?

The least count of a sextant is the smallest angle that can be measured with the instrument. It is typically determined by the design of the sextant and the precision of its scales. The least count is important for accurately measuring angles in celestial navigation and other applications where precise angular measurements are required.