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What was the instrument that measured the positions of the stars which enabled sailors to calculate a ships latitude?
There were a number of instruments developed over the course of the centuries to make it possible to measure the angular elevation of celestial bodies above the horizon. Interestingly enough, the names of the various devices denoted the proportion of a circle that the object covered.
The earliest was the "quadrant"; a right-angle viewing line with a quarter circle of arc, and calibrated in degrees. Line up the viewing arm with the star, and a plumb bob would display the angular elevation. This didn't work very well at sea, because the motions of a ship would move the plumb line off vertical, and it wasn't very accurate. The word "quadrant" comes from the latin word for "one fourth".
They improved this device with the "octant", one eighth of a circle, but with a mirror and an improved measuring device. "Octo" is the latin prefix for eight.
The current angular measuring device is the "sextant", where "sextus" is the latin word for six. The sextant has an arc of one sixth of a circle. An improved mirror lets you line up the Sun, Moon or star with the horizon, eliminating the need for a plumb bob, and a precise measuring calibration makes it possible to measure the altitude of an object to within a minute of arc.
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How is distance measured from the Equator?
Distance from the Equator is measured using lines of latitude. The Equator is designated as 0 degrees latitude, and distances are measured in degrees, minutes, and seconds north or south of the Equator.
What are latitude and longitude measured in?
Latitude and longitude are measured in degrees, with latitude representing north-south position and longitude representing east-west position on the Earth's surface.
Distance north or south measured in degrees is called what?
Distance north or south measured in degrees is called latitude.
What is the latitude of point E to the nearest minute?
To determine the latitude of point E to the nearest minute, you would need to provide the specific coordinates or location of point E. Latitude is measured in degrees and minutes, with one degree equal to 60 minutes. Please provide the necessary information to calculate or identify the latitude.
What is the Distance from the equator measured in degrees called?
'Distance' can't be measured in degrees.The angle from the equator to the place of interestis the latitude of the place.
What line is latitude measured by?
Latitude is distance from the Equator.
What term is used for the measurement of distance from the equator?
Latitude, which is measured in degrees, minutes and seconds.
How do you calculate ammeters?
An ammeter is an instrument that measures electrical current as it travels through a conduit. Amperes are what the measurements that are are measured aree called.
How is distance measured from the Equator?
Distance from the Equator is measured using lines of latitude. The Equator is designated as 0 degrees latitude, and distances are measured in degrees, minutes, and seconds north or south of the Equator.
What are latitude and longitude measured in?
Latitude and longitude are measured in degrees, with latitude representing north-south position and longitude representing east-west position on the Earth's surface.
What are latitude measured in?
in degrees
How are lines of latitude measured?
measured by archibold wid wicki
How are Latitude lines are measured?
measured by archibold wid wicki
Who'slines are measured in degrees latitude or longittude?
Latitude and longitude are angles. They're both measured in degrees and fractions of degrees.
Distance north or south measured in degrees is called what?
Distance north or south measured in degrees is called latitude.
Are minutes in latitude measured from the equator?
no
Latitude and longitude are measured by what?
degrees
