Wooden portions of this octant or sextant are now largely consumed but the brass pieces are in situ and articulated. Prior to use of the Global Positioning System (GPS), ships used celestial navigation, measuring the angle between the Earth’s horizon and planets, stars and the sun, to find their position and navigate the sea. Image courtesy NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program.
Octant
Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research. Download larger version (jpg, 1.1 MB).

Wooden portions of this octant or sextant are now largely consumed but the brass pieces are in situ and articulated. Prior to use of the Global Positioning System (GPS), ships used celestial navigation, measuring the angle between the Earth’s horizon and planets, stars and the sun, to find their position and navigate the sea.

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