An octant is a historical instrument used in navigation to determine the angle between a celestial body (such as the Sun, Moon, or stars) and the horizon. It was widely used by sailors and navigators in the 18th and 19th centuries for celestial navigation, which involves using the positions of celestial bodies to determine the ship's position and course.
The octant is a predecessor to the sextant, which is a similar instrument but with greater precision. The octant gets its name from the fact that the instrument's arc covers one-eighth of a circle (45 degrees). It consists of a graduated scale, called the arc, and a movable arm called the index arm or horizon bar, which carries a small mirror or prism called the index mirror. By adjusting the position of the index mirror, the navigator can align the image of a celestial body with the visible more...
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