The Sextant
Pre-cut, very stable cardboard kit for a fully functional sextant as an introduction to astro-navigation.
Until the introduction of satellite-based systems (GPS), the most important method for determining a location on the high seas was to measure the height of the star above the horizon or the distance between stars as accurately as possible. After the quadrant and astrolabe, Jacob's staff and magnetic compass, a new era in astro-navigation began with the invention of the first mirror sextant. This instrument revolutionised navigation because from then on it was possible to measure, for example, the altitude of the sun with unsurpassed accuracy and speed.
The principle is ingenious and at the same time amazingly simple: a rotating mirror makes it possible to align an image of the point to be measured with the horizon or another reference point and to read off the distance angle on a scale.
Display accuracy between 5 and 10 arc minutes
- Size when assembled: approx. 20 cm wide and 23 cm high
- Scope of delivery: pre-cut and printed construction cardboard with detailed building instructions, incl. accessories: mirror and solar filter, short introduction to the art of navigation.
- Difficulty: medium
- Time: relatively time-consuming
We recommend the artificial horizon as a useful accessory.
Product safety information
Manufacturer information:
Astromedia
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