Marine Sextant

Marine sextants are navigational instruments used by mariners to measure the angle between two objects, typically the horizon and a celestial body such as the sun or a star. They are part of the supply class Navigational Instruments in the supply group Instruments And Laboratory Equipment.

Marine sextants are essential tools for celestial navigation, allowing sailors to determine their position at sea by measuring the altitude of celestial bodies. They consist of a metal frame with a telescope mounted on it, along with a graduated arc or scale. The user aligns the sextant with the horizon and the celestial body, and then reads the angle from the scale.

These instruments are typically made of brass or other corrosion-resistant materials to withstand the harsh marine environment. They are designed to be portable and easy to use, making them suitable for navigation on ships and boats.

Marine sextants have been used for centuries and are still used today, although they have been largely replaced by electronic navigation systems. However, they remain important backup tools and are also used in celestial navigation training.

In summary, marine sextants are navigational instruments used by mariners to measure the angle between the horizon and celestial bodies. They are part of the Navigational Instruments supply class in the Instruments And Laboratory Equipment supply group.