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Backstaff, the Glossary

The backstaff is a navigational instrument that was used to measure the altitude of a celestial body, in particular the Sun or Moon.^[1]

24 relations: Astronomical object, Benjamin Cole (instrument maker), Celestial navigation, Charles Hutton, Crossbow, Edmund Gunter, Elton's quadrant, George Adams (scientist, died 1773), Jacob's staff, John Davis (explorer), John Flamsteed, Mariner's astrolabe, Moon, Octant (instrument), Oxford University Press, Position of the Sun, Quadrant (instrument), Semidiameter, Spirit level, Sun, Thomas Harriot, Thomas Hood (mathematician), Transversal (instrument making), Vernier scale.
Celestial navigation

Astronomical object

An astronomical object, celestial object, stellar object or heavenly body is a naturally occurring physical entity, association, or structure that exists within the observable universe.

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Benjamin Cole (instrument maker)

Benjamin Cole (1695–1766) was an English surveyor, cartographer, instrument maker, engraver and bookbinder living in Oxford.

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Celestial navigation, also known as astronavigation, is the practice of position fixing using stars and other celestial bodies that enables a navigator to accurately determine their actual current physical position in space or on the surface of the Earth without relying solely on estimated positional calculations, commonly known as dead reckoning.

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Charles Hutton

Charles Hutton FRS FRSE LLD (14 August 1737 – 27 January 1823) was an English mathematician and surveyor.

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Crossbow

A crossbow is a ranged weapon using an elastic launching device consisting of a bow-like assembly called a prod, mounted horizontally on a main frame called a tiller, which is hand-held in a similar fashion to the stock of a long gun.

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Edmund Gunter

Edmund Gunter (158110 December 1626), was an English clergyman, mathematician, geometer and astronomer of Welsh descent.

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Elton's quadrant

An Elton's quadrant is a derivative of the Davis quadrant. Backstaff and Elton's quadrant are astronomical instruments, celestial navigation, Historical scientific instruments, measuring instruments and Navigational equipment.

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George Adams (scientist, died 1773)

George Adams (c. 1709–1773) was an English instrument maker and science writer.

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Jacob's staff

The term Jacob's staff is used to refer to several things, also known as cross-staff, a ballastella, a fore-staff, a ballestilla, or a balestilha. Backstaff and Jacob's staff are celestial navigation, Historical scientific instruments and Navigational equipment.

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John Davis (explorer)

John Davis (– 29 December 1605) was one of the chief navigators of Queen Elizabeth I of England.

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John Flamsteed

John Flamsteed (19 August 1646 – 31 December 1719) was an English astronomer and the first Astronomer Royal.

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Mariner's astrolabe

The mariner's astrolabe, also called sea astrolabe, was an inclinometer used to determine the latitude of a ship at sea by measuring the sun's noon altitude (declination) or the meridian altitude of a star of known declination. Backstaff and mariner's astrolabe are astronomical instruments, celestial navigation, Historical scientific instruments and Navigational equipment.

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Moon

The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite.

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Octant (instrument)

The octant, also called a reflecting quadrant, is a reflecting instrument used in navigation. Backstaff and octant (instrument) are astronomical instruments, celestial navigation and Navigational equipment.

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Oxford University Press

Oxford University Press (OUP) is the publishing house of the University of Oxford.

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Position of the Sun

The position of the Sun in the sky is a function of both the time and the geographic location of observation on Earth's surface.

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Quadrant (instrument)

A quadrant is an instrument used to measure angles up to 90°. Backstaff and quadrant (instrument) are astronomical instruments, Historical scientific instruments and Navigational equipment.

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Semidiameter

In geometry, the semidiameter or semi-diameter of a set of points may be one half of its diameter; or, sometimes, one half of its extent along a particular direction.

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Spirit level

A spirit level, bubble level, or simply a level, is an instrument designed to indicate whether a surface is horizontal (level) or vertical (plumb).

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Sun

The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System.

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Thomas Harriot

Thomas Harriot (– 2 July 1621), also spelled Harriott, Hariot or Heriot, was an English astronomer, mathematician, ethnographer and translator to whom the theory of refraction is attributed.

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Thomas Hood (mathematician)

Thomas Hood (1556–1620) was an English mathematician and physician, the first lecturer in mathematics appointed in England, a few years before the founding of Gresham College.

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Transversal (instrument making)

Transversals are a geometric construction on a scientific instrument to allow a graduation to be read to a finer degree of accuracy. Backstaff and Transversal (instrument making) are Historical scientific instruments and measuring instruments.

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Vernier scale

A vernier scale), named after Pierre Vernier, is a visual aid to take an accurate measurement reading between two graduation markings on a linear scale by using mechanical interpolation, thereby increasing resolution and reducing measurement uncertainty by using vernier acuity to reduce human estimation error.

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References

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backstaff

Also known as Back quadrant, Back staff, Back-quadrant, Back-staff, Cole's quadrant, Cross bow quadrant, Davis quadrant, Demi-cross, Hood's cross-staff, Plough (instrument).