What is Sextant?
In the past, people would hold a sextant in their hands to determine the angle that the horizon formed with respect to the sun, moon, or stars. Prior to the development of contemporary navigation systems such as GPS, it was a crucial instrument for ships to determine their latitude and chart their voyage over the seas.
An eyepiece, horizon glass, and a moveable arm make up the sextant. The user would use the movable arm to align the image of the celestial object with the horizon after sighting it through the horizon glass. The instrument's scale may then be used to read the object's angle with respect to the horizon.
With this angle measured and the time in hand, navigators could use celestial navigation methods and tables provided in books to determine their latitude. Even in the middle of the enormous oceans, before satellite navigation became accessible, sextants allowed sailors to precisely map their position and route by measuring the ship's speed and direction.
Although sextants are no longer used for marine navigation, they are still employed for some specialized tasks such as surveying, astronomy, and training in celestial navigation. During the Age of Sail and Discovery, they allowed for precise transoceanic sailing and exploration, which is a significant historical accomplishment.