8A05.70 - Celestial Navigation Instruments - Sextants - Astro-compass

Code Number:
8A05.70
Demo Title:
Celestial Navigation Instruments - Sextants - Astro-compass
Condition:
Excellent
Principle:
History of Astronomy
Area of Study:
Astronomy
Equipment:
Sextants - large and small, Astro-compass.
Procedure:

While the sextants are in working order, they are mainly for show and tell when talking about Longitude and Latitude.

References:
  • Philip M. Sadler, Christopher Night, "Daytime Celestial Navigation for the Novice", TPT, Vol. 48, # 3, March 2010, p. 197.
  • Garet G. Nenninger, "Easily Constructed Mini-Sextant Demonstrates Optical Principles", TPT, Vol. 38, # 4, April 2000, p. 238.
  • Thomas B. Greenslade, Jr., "Sextant (Photo)", AJP, Vol. 72, # 11, Nov. 2004, p. 1407.
  • L. M. Celnikier, "Weighing the Earth with a Sextant", AJP, Vol. 51, #11, Nov. 1983, p. 1018.
  • Janice VanCleave, "Explorers", Geography for Every Kid, p. 21.
  • "A Simple Sextant", The Boy Scientist, p. 39.
  • "Sextant", Science and Invention Encyclopedia, p. 2367 - 2368.
  • Gerard L'E. Turner, Surveying and Navigation, Nineteenth-Century Scientific Instruments, p. 262 - 267.
  • "Sextant", Pike's Illustrated Catalogue of Scientific & Medical Instruments, 1984, p. 69.
  • Sophie Bushwick, "Make a Sextant from Junk", Popular Science, Jan. 2017, p. 84.

Disclaimer: These demonstrations are provided only for illustrative use by persons affiliated with The University of Iowa and only under the direction of a trained instructor or physicist.  The University of Iowa is not responsible for demonstrations performed by those using their own equipment or who choose to use this reference material for their own purpose.  The demonstrations included here are within the public domain and can be found in materials contained in libraries, bookstores, and through electronic sources.  Performing all or any portion of any of these demonstrations, with or without revisions not depicted here entails inherent risks.  These risks include, without limitation, bodily injury (and possibly death), including risks to health that may be temporary or permanent and that may exacerbate a pre-existing medical condition; and property loss or damage.  Anyone performing any part of these demonstrations, even with revisions, knowingly and voluntarily assumes all risks associated with them.