sextants filters

MAC CASC 19914

Object type sextant filters

Culture/period Contemporary

Materials bronze, glass

Technique

Mint

Production date 1813

Museum Museu d'Arqueologia de Catalunya - CASC

Current location

Archaeological site Deltebre I

Township Deltebre (Europa, Espanya, Catalunya, Tarragona, Baix Ebre)

Dimensions 71 x 63 x 18 mm

Description

The sextant is an instrument used to determine the height (angle) at which a star, usually the sun, was on the horizon. In this way, if the time is known at the time of the observation, it is possible to determine the latitude they were on by simple mathematical calculations. These observations were usually made in daylight hours, as this is when the line between the sea and the sky is best discerned. Because the horizon and the sun must be observed directly to use these instruments, the sextants have built-in colour filters to protect the observer's eyes.

Omeka ID 3041