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One eighth of a circle.

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2y ago
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4mo ago

An octant is a celestial navigation instrument used by mariners to measure the angle between the horizon and a celestial body like the sun or a star. It was primarily used for determining latitude at sea before the invention of the sextant. A typical octant has a graduated arc of 45 degrees, one-eighth of a circle, hence the name "octant."

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Q: What is octant?
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Continue Learning about Astronomy

Who invented the octant?

The octant was invented by British mathematician and astronomer John Hadley in 1730. Hadley's octant was a navigation instrument used to measure the altitude of celestial bodies, helping sailors to determine their position at sea.


How many degrees in an octant?

An octant contains 45 degrees. It corresponds to one-eighth of a full circle, which has 360 degrees.


Who built the sextant?

The sextant was developed independently by multiple inventors in the late 18th century, including John Hadley and Thomas Godfrey. It is unclear who specifically should be credited with its invention, as the device was refined over time by various individuals.


Small southern constellation between Telescopium and Tucana?

The constellation you are referring to is Octans. It is often associated with the navigational tool known as the Octant, which was used before the invention of the sextant for celestial navigation. Octans is not very well-known because it is located far in the southern hemisphere and is not visible from most populated areas in the northern hemisphere.


Southern circumpolar constellation that contains the stellar south pole?

The southern circumpolar constellation that contains the stellar south pole is called Octans. It is a faint constellation located close to the south celestial pole, making it useful for navigation in the Southern Hemisphere. Octans is named after the octant, a navigational tool used for determining latitude that was the precursor to the modern sextant.