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Sextant :: Sextant (n.) An instrument for measuring angular distances between objects, -- used esp. at sea, for ascertaining the latitude and longitude. It is constructed on the same optical principle as Hadley's quadrant, but usually of metal, with a nicer graduation, telescopic sight, and its arc the sixth, and sometimes the third, part of a circle. See Quadrant..

Radius :: Radius (n.) The movable limb of a sextant or other angular instrument.

Backstaff :: Backstaff (n.) An instrument formerly used for taking the altitude of the heavenly bodies, but now superseded by the quadrant and sextant; -- so called because the observer turned his back to the body observed..

Sextant :: Sextant (n.) The constellation Sextans.

Vernier :: Vernier (n.) A short scale made to slide along the divisions of a graduated instrument, as the limb of a sextant, or the scale of a barometer, for indicating parts of divisions. It is so graduated that a certain convenient number of its divisions are just equal to a certain number, either one less or one more, of the divisions of the instrument, so that parts of a division are determined by observing what line on the vernier coincides with a line on the instrument..

Octant :: Octant (n.) An instrument for measuring angles (generally called a quadrant), having an arc which measures up to 9O�, but being itself the eighth part of a circle. Cf. Sextant..

Divide :: Divide (v. t.) To mark divisions on; to graduate; as, to divide a sextant..

Forestaff :: Forestaff (n.) An instrument formerly used at sea for taking the altitudes of heavenly bodies, now superseded by the sextant; -- called also cross-staff..

Sextans :: Sextans (n.) A constellation on the equator south of Leo; the Sextant.

Macrometer :: Macrometer (n.) An instrument for determining the size or distance of inaccessible objects by means of two reflectors on a common sextant.

Observation :: Observation (n.) Specifically, the act of measuring, with suitable instruments, some magnitude, as the time of an occultation, with a clock; the right ascension of a star, with a transit instrument and clock; the sun's altitude, or the distance of the moon from a star, with a sextant; the temperature, with a thermometer, etc..

Sextant :: Sextant (n.) The sixth part of a circle.

Altimeter :: Altimeter (n.) An instrument for taking altitudes, as a quadrant, sextant, etc..

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