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Brass sextant, 1853
This brass sextant was made in England around 1853. A sextant helps determine latitude by measuring the altitude of celestial bodies above the sea horizon. A sextant also fixes a position at sea by measuring horizontal angles between landmarks. The calibrated arc on the arm of the sextant was originally 60ï‚°, or one-sixth of a circle, hence the name. The octant works on the same principle as the sextant, except that the arc originally was 45ï‚°, or one-eighth of a circle.
ID Number: 1955.970.347
Date: 1853
Physical Description: 1 Sextant; brass, wood; 15 in.H x 15 in.W x 4 in.D
Place Made: United Kindgom, , London
Credit: MOHAI, 1955.970.347. Gift of Mr. Horace W. McCurdy
Subjects:
Maritime