Garland Collection of instruments: Sextant
Creation: unknown
A sextant is used to determine the angle between an astronomical object and the horizon and was used by sailors for celestial navigation. The angle, combined with the time it was measured, was used to calculate position on a chart.
Title
Garland Collection of instruments: Sextant
Date
Creation: unknown
Description
A sextant is used to determine the angle between an astronomical object and the horizon and was used by sailors for celestial navigation. The angle, combined with the time it was measured, was used to calculate position on a chart.
Rights
Copyright; licensed to Vanderbilt University
Format
Sextants
Source
Item on loan from the Arthur J. Dyer Observatory
Files
Citation
“Garland Collection of instruments: Sextant,” Gallery, accessed September 10, 2026, https://gallery.library.vanderbilt.edu/items/show/968.