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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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5mo ago

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Who invented and used the first sextant?

The sextant was developed in the 18th century, with significant contributions from several inventors. The first practical sextant is attributed to British instrument maker John Hadley, who created a working model around 1730. However, the design was also influenced by earlier navigational instruments such as the quadrant and the astrolabe. The sextant became widely used by sailors for celestial navigation, allowing them to measure the angle between a celestial body and the horizon.


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.