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Sextant facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Sextant
A sextant

A sextant is an object used for navigation which measures angles. The user is able to measure the angle between the horizon and an object in the sky, such as the sun, a star, or a planet. It originally could measure angles up to 60°, which was one sixth of a circle. This is how it got its name from the Latin word sextus (six). It helps work out positions of latitude and longitude.

Using sextant swing
Using a marine sextant to measure the altitude of the sun above the horizon

Images for kids

  • 180423-N-DL434-149 (27894845758)

    U.S. Navy Quartermaster 3rd Class, practices using a sextant as part of a navigation training aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), 2018

  • Käpt'n Jonny Arndt bei einer Horizontalwinkelmessung.

    Sextants can also be used by navigators to measure horizontal angles between objects

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Sextante para niños

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