Sextant used for navigating. 8x21x21cm

Description

Sextant made of antique brass, with a rosewood box elegantly decorated with brass inlays.

Measurements: 8 x 21 x 21 cm.

The sextant was invented in 1730 by John Hadley and Thomas Godfrey to facilitate maritime navigation. The sextant enables the angular height of the sun above the horizon to be obtained.

The sextant consists of a small telescope (for viewing the horizon), two mirrors (which reflect the image of the object), filters (for the sun), a movable arm and a graduated arc of a circle. The angle of aperture is 60°, one-sixth of a circle, hence the name of the instrument.