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Sextants

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The sextant is a historical angle measuring instrument used to determine position at sea, in the air, or on land. Despite modern GPS technology, the sextant remains an important analog alternative that operates independently of power and can be life-saving in the event of modern systems failure.

  • Sextants in navigation – an indispensable safety instrument

    Before the GPS era, the sextant, Jacob's staff, and astrolabe were the most important navigational aids. The sextant resolved the disadvantages of its predecessors and remains a valued tool on board today due to its reliability and independence from electronic systems.

  • How the sextant works

    A sextant measures the angle between the horizon and a celestial body, usually the sun, using a complex system of movable and fixed mirrors. The pointer arm and the degree scale allow the angle of elevation to be read precisely. Combined with the precise time, this allows for a position determination with an accuracy of approximately 20 arcseconds.