How Celestial Navigation Sextants Measure Latitude at Sea
In short: The sextant is a navigational tool that utilizes the double reflection principle to measure angles between celestial bodies and the horizon, allowing for compact and accurate position determination.
A 1:54 short film in the series “How It Worked”.
Sources used in this film: Australian National Maritime Museum, “Latitude, longitude, and the Greeks”; Utah State University, “Sextant”; Britannica, “Sextant | Navigation, Celestial Measurement & Astronomy | Britannica”.
Sources used in this film
- Australian National Maritime Museum — Latitude, longitude, and the Greeks · View →
- Utah State University — Sextant · View →
- Britannica — Sextant | Navigation, Celestial Measurement & Astronomy | Britannica · View →
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Australian National Maritime Museum: Latitude, longitude, and the Greeks
- Also: Utah State University: Sextant
- Also: Britannica: Sextant | Navigation, Celestial Measurement & Astronomy | Britannica
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/how-celestial-navigation-sextants-measure-latitude-at-sea.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Space · Latest · A–Z · All topics