Sextant, the Glossary
A sextant is a doubly reflecting navigation instrument that measures the angular distance between two visible objects.[1]
Table of Contents
70 relations: Aircraft, Alidade, Angular distance, Astrolabe, Astronomical object, Backstaff, Bris sextant, Celestial navigation, Church (building), Collimated beam, Dawn, Degree (angle), Dusk, Fuselage, Gago Coutinho, Geopositioning, Glare (vision), Greenwich Mean Time, Harold Gatty, History of longitude, Horizon, Horizontal coordinate system, Intercept method, Invar, Isaac Newton, John Hadley, Landmark, Latin, Latitude, Lighthouse, Limb darkening, Longitude, Longitude by chronometer, Lunar distance, Lunar distance (navigation), Lunar phase, Mariner's astrolabe, Minute and second of arc, Mist, Monocular, Moon, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Nautical chart, Nautical mile, Navigation, Noon, Octant (instrument), Optical filter, Parallel (geometry), Periscope, ... Expand index (20 more) »
- 1731 introductions
- Angle measuring instruments
- Celestial navigation
Aircraft
An aircraft (aircraft) is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air.
Alidade
An alidade (archaic forms include alhidade, alhidad, alidad) or a turning board is a device that allows one to sight a distant object and use the line of sight to perform a task. Sextant and alidade are astronomical instruments and navigational equipment.
Angular distance
Angular distance or angular separation is the measure of the angle between the orientation of two straight lines, rays, or vectors in three-dimensional space, or the central angle subtended by the radii through two points on a sphere.
See Sextant and Angular distance
Astrolabe
An astrolabe (ἀστρολάβος,; ٱلأَسْطُرلاب; ستارهیاب) is an astronomical instrument dating to ancient times. Sextant and astrolabe are astronomical instruments and navigational equipment.
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.
See Sextant and Astronomical object
Backstaff
The backstaff is a navigational instrument that was used to measure the altitude of a celestial body, in particular the Sun or Moon. Sextant and backstaff are astronomical instruments, celestial navigation and navigational equipment.
Bris sextant
Bris sextant. Assembly drawing of a Bris sextant. The Bris sextant is not a sextant proper, but is a small angle-measuring device that can be used for navigation. Sextant and Bris sextant are astronomical instruments, celestial navigation and navigational equipment.
Celestial navigation
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.
See Sextant and Celestial navigation
Church (building)
A church, church building, or church house is a building used for Christian worship services and other Christian religious activities.
See Sextant and Church (building)
Collimated beam
A collimated beam of light or other electromagnetic radiation has parallel rays, and therefore will spread minimally as it propagates.
See Sextant and Collimated beam
Dawn
Dawn is the time that marks the beginning of twilight before sunrise.
See Sextant and Dawn
Degree (angle)
A degree (in full, a degree of arc, arc degree, or arcdegree), usually denoted by ° (the degree symbol), is a measurement of a plane angle in which one full rotation is 360 degrees.
See Sextant and Degree (angle)
Dusk
Dusk occurs at the darkest stage of twilight, or at the very end of astronomical twilight after sunset and just before nightfall.
See Sextant and Dusk
Fuselage
The fuselage (from the French fuselé "spindle-shaped") is an aircraft's main body section.
Gago Coutinho
Carlos Viegas Gago Coutinho, GCTE, GCC (17 February 1869 – 18 February 1959), generally known simply as Gago Coutinho, was a Portuguese geographer, cartographer, naval officer, historian and aviator.
Geopositioning
Geopositioning is the process of determining or estimating the geographic position of an object.
See Sextant and Geopositioning
Glare (vision)
Glare is difficulty of seeing in the presence of bright light such as direct or reflected sunlight or artificial light such as car headlamps at night.
See Sextant and Glare (vision)
Greenwich Mean Time
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is the local mean time at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London, counted from midnight.
See Sextant and Greenwich Mean Time
Harold Gatty
Harold Charles Gatty (5 January 1903 – 30 August 1957) was an Australian navigator and aviation pioneer.
History of longitude
The history of longitude describes the centuries-long effort by astronomers, cartographers and navigators to discover a means of determining the longitude of any given place on Earth. Sextant and history of longitude are celestial navigation.
See Sextant and History of longitude
Horizon
The horizon is the apparent curve that separates the surface of a celestial body from its sky when viewed from the perspective of an observer on or near the surface of the relevant body.
Horizontal coordinate system
The horizontal coordinate system is a celestial coordinate system that uses the observer's local horizon as the fundamental plane to define two angles of a spherical coordinate system: altitude and azimuth.
See Sextant and Horizontal coordinate system
Intercept method
In astronomical navigation, the intercept method, also known as Marcq St. Sextant and intercept method are celestial navigation.
See Sextant and Intercept method
Invar
Invar, also known generically as FeNi36 (64FeNi in the US), is a nickel–iron alloy notable for its uniquely low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE or α).
Isaac Newton
Sir Isaac Newton (25 December 1642 – 20 March 1726/27) was an English polymath active as a mathematician, physicist, astronomer, alchemist, theologian, and author who was described in his time as a natural philosopher.
John Hadley
John Hadley (16 April 1682 – 14 February 1744) was an English mathematician, and laid claim to the invention of the octant, two years after Thomas Godfrey claimed the same.
Landmark
A landmark is a recognizable natural or artificial feature used for navigation, a feature that stands out from its near environment and is often visible from long distances.
Latin
Latin (lingua Latina,, or Latinum) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages.
Latitude
In geography, latitude is a coordinate that specifies the north–south position of a point on the surface of the Earth or another celestial body.
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of physical structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses and to serve as a beacon for navigational aid, for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways.
Limb darkening
Limb darkening is an optical effect seen in stars (including the Sun) and planets, where the central part of the disk appears brighter than the edge, or limb.
See Sextant and Limb darkening
Longitude
Longitude is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east–west position of a point on the surface of the Earth, or another celestial body.
Longitude by chronometer
Longitude by chronometer is a method, in navigation, of determining longitude using a marine chronometer, which was developed by John Harrison during the first half of the eighteenth century.
See Sextant and Longitude by chronometer
Lunar distance
The instantaneous Earth–Moon distance, or distance to the Moon, is the distance from the center of Earth to the center of the Moon.
See Sextant and Lunar distance
Lunar distance (navigation)
In celestial navigation, lunar distance, also called a lunar, is the angular distance between the Moon and another celestial body. Sextant and lunar distance (navigation) are celestial navigation.
See Sextant and Lunar distance (navigation)
Lunar phase
A lunar phase or Moon phase is the apparent shape of the Moon's directly sunlit portion as viewed from the Earth (because the Moon is tidally locked with the Earth, the same hemisphere is always facing the Earth).
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. Sextant and mariner's astrolabe are astronomical instruments, celestial navigation and navigational equipment.
See Sextant and Mariner's astrolabe
Minute and second of arc
A minute of arc, arcminute (arcmin), arc minute, or minute arc, denoted by the symbol, is a unit of angular measurement equal to of one degree.
See Sextant and Minute and second of arc
Mist
Mist is a phenomenon caused by small droplets of water suspended in the cold air, usually by condensation.
See Sextant and Mist
Monocular
A monocular is a compact refracting telescope used to magnify images of distant objects, typically using an optical prism to ensure an erect image, instead of using relay lenses like most telescopic sights.
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite.
See Sextant and Moon
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) is a combat support agency within the United States Department of Defense whose primary mission is collecting, analyzing, and distributing geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) in support of national security.
See Sextant and National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
Nautical chart
A nautical chart or hydrographic chart is a graphic representation of a sea region or water body and adjacent coasts or banks.
See Sextant and Nautical chart
Nautical mile
A nautical mile is a unit of length used in air, marine, and space navigation, and for the definition of territorial waters.
Navigation
Navigation is a field of study that focuses on the process of monitoring and controlling the movement of a craft or vehicle from one place to another.
Noon
Noon (or midday) is 12 o'clock in the daytime.
See Sextant and Noon
Octant (instrument)
The octant, also called a reflecting quadrant, is a reflecting instrument used in navigation. Sextant and octant (instrument) are angle measuring instruments, astronomical instruments, celestial navigation and navigational equipment.
See Sextant and Octant (instrument)
Optical filter
An optical filter is a device that selectively transmits light of different wavelengths, usually implemented as a glass plane or plastic device in the optical path, which are either dyed in the bulk or have interference coatings.
See Sextant and Optical filter
Parallel (geometry)
In geometry, parallel lines are coplanar infinite straight lines that do not intersect at any point.
See Sextant and Parallel (geometry)
Periscope
A periscope is an instrument for observation over, around or through an object, obstacle or condition that prevents direct line-of-sight observation from an observer's current position.
Plane (mathematics)
In mathematics, a plane is a two-dimensional space or flat surface that extends indefinitely.
See Sextant and Plane (mathematics)
Planet
A planet is a large, rounded astronomical body that is generally required to be in orbit around a star, stellar remnant, or brown dwarf, and is not one itself.
Point source
A point source is a single identifiable localised source of something.
Polaris
Polaris is a star in the northern circumpolar constellation of Ursa Minor.
Position line
A position line or line of position (LOP) is a line (or, on the surface of the Earth, a curve) that can be both identified on a chart (nautical chart or aeronautical chart) and translated to the surface of the Earth.
Quadrant (instrument)
A quadrant is an instrument used to measure angles up to 90°. Sextant and quadrant (instrument) are angle measuring instruments, astronomical instruments and navigational equipment.
See Sextant and Quadrant (instrument)
Reflecting instrument
Reflecting instruments are those that use mirrors to enhance their ability to make measurements. Sextant and Reflecting instrument are angle measuring instruments, astronomical instruments, celestial navigation and navigational equipment.
See Sextant and Reflecting instrument
Rotation around a fixed axis
Rotation around a fixed axis or axial rotation is a special case of rotational motion around an axis of rotation fixed, stationary, or static in three-dimensional space.
See Sextant and Rotation around a fixed axis
Sea level
Mean sea level (MSL, often shortened to sea level) is an average surface level of one or more among Earth's coastal bodies of water from which heights such as elevation may be measured.
Sextant (astronomy)
In astronomy, sextants are devices depicting a sixth of a circle, used primarily for measuring the position of stars. Sextant and sextant (astronomy) are astronomical instruments.
See Sextant and Sextant (astronomy)
Sight reduction
In astronavigation, sight reduction is the process of deriving from a sight (in celestial navigation usually obtained using a sextant) the information needed for establishing a line of position, generally by intercept method. Sextant and sight reduction are celestial navigation.
See Sextant and Sight reduction
Silvering
Silvering is the chemical process of coating a non-conductive substrate such as glass with a reflective substance, to produce a mirror.
Star
A star is a luminous spheroid of plasma held together by self-gravity.
See Sextant and Star
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System.
See Sextant and Sun
Telescope
A telescope is a device used to observe distant objects by their emission, absorption, or reflection of electromagnetic radiation. Sextant and telescope are astronomical instruments.
The Stationery Office
The Stationery Office (TSO) is a British publishing company created in 1996 when the publishing arm of His Majesty's Stationery Office was privatised.
See Sextant and The Stationery Office
Thomas Godfrey (inventor)
Thomas Godfrey (January 10, 1704 – December 1749) was a glazier and self-taught mathematician and astronomer in the Pennsylvania Colony, who invented the octant in 1730.
See Sextant and Thomas Godfrey (inventor)
Twilight
Twilight is light produced by sunlight scattering in the upper atmosphere, when the Sun is below the horizon, which illuminates the lower atmosphere and the Earth's surface.
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.
Watercraft
A watercraft or waterborne vessel is any vehicle designed for travel across or through water bodies, such as a boat, ship, hovercraft, submersible or submarine.
See also
1731 introductions
- Sextant
Angle measuring instruments
- Beam compass
- Circumferentor
- Dioptra
- Goniometer
- Graphometer
- Gyroscopes
- Inclinometers
- Jacob's staff
- Mural instrument
- Octant (instrument)
- Quadrant (instrument)
- Reflecting instrument
- Sextant
- Theodolite
Celestial navigation
- Almucantar
- Astrodome (aeronautics)
- Backstaff
- Bris sextant
- Bubble octant
- Celestial navigation
- Circle of equal altitude
- Elton's quadrant
- Ephemeris
- Fanuankuwel
- History of longitude
- Intercept method
- Isoazimuth
- Jacob's staff
- Kamal (navigation)
- List of stars for navigation
- Lunar distance (navigation)
- Marine navigation
- Mariner's astrolabe
- Navigational algorithms
- Octant (instrument)
- Pulsar-based navigation
- Reflecting instrument
- Sextant
- Sight reduction
- Star tracker
- Sun sensor
References
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sextant
Also known as Sextant adjustment, Sextant observation, Sextants.
, Plane (mathematics), Planet, Point source, Polaris, Position line, Quadrant (instrument), Reflecting instrument, Rotation around a fixed axis, Sea level, Sextant (astronomy), Sight reduction, Silvering, Star, Sun, Telescope, The Stationery Office, Thomas Godfrey (inventor), Twilight, Vernier scale, Watercraft.