sextantˈsɛk stənt
sextant (n)
- plural
- sextants
English Definitions:
sextant (noun)
a unit of angular distance equal to 60 degrees
sextant (noun)
a measuring instrument for measuring the angular distance between celestial objects; resembles an octant
sextant (Noun)
A navigational device for deriving angular distances between objects so as to determine latitude and longitude.
sextant (Noun)
One sixth of a circle or disc; a sector with an angle of 60.
Sextant
A sextant is an instrument used to measure the angle between any two visible objects. Its primary use is to determine the angle between a celestial object and the horizon which is known as the object's altitude. Making this measurement is known as sighting the object, shooting the object, or taking a sight and it is an essential part of celestial navigation. The angle, and the time when it was measured, can be used to calculate a position line on a nautical or aeronautical chart. Common uses of the sextant include sighting the sun at solar noon and sighting Polaris at night, to find one's latitude. Sighting the height of a landmark can give a measure of distance off and, held horizontally, a sextant can measure angles between objects for a position on a chart. A sextant can also be used to measure the lunar distance between the moon and another celestial object in order to determine Greenwich time which is important because it can then be used to determine the longitude. The scale of a sextant has a length of ⅙ of a turn; hence the sextant's name. An octant is a similar device with a shorter scale, whereas a quintant and a quadrant have longer scales.
Sextant
A sextant is a doubly reflecting navigation instrument that measures the angular distance between two visible objects. The primary use of a sextant is to measure the angle between an astronomical object and the horizon for the purposes of celestial navigation. The estimation of this angle, the altitude, is known as sighting or shooting the object, or taking a sight. The angle, and the time when it was measured, can be used to calculate a position line on a nautical or aeronautical chart—for example, sighting the Sun at noon or Polaris at night (in the Northern Hemisphere) to estimate latitude (with sight reduction). Sighting the height of a landmark can give a measure of distance off and, held horizontally, a sextant can measure angles between objects for a position on a chart. A sextant can also be used to measure the lunar distance between the moon and another celestial object (such as a star or planet) in order to determine Greenwich Mean Time and hence longitude. The principle of the instrument was first implemented around 1731 by John Hadley (1682–1744) and Thomas Godfrey (1704–1749), but it was also found later in the unpublished writings of Isaac Newton (1643–1727). In 1922, it was modified for aeronautical navigation by Portuguese navigator and naval officer Gago Coutinho.
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"sextant." Kamus.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 23 Apr. 2024. <https://www.kamus.net/english/sextant>.
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