Precision, Measurement & Control
Beijing astronomical sextant
This large observatory sextant measures angular separation between stars using a sixty-degree arc. It is a stationary sighting instrument, distinct from the later handheld reflecting sextant used at sea. Its surviving frame shows...
About this artifact
This large observatory sextant measures angular separation between stars using a sixty-degree arc. It is a stationary sighting instrument, distinct from the later handheld reflecting sextant used at sea. Its surviving frame shows how astronomers combined mechanical adjustment with graduated scales to compare positions across the sky.
Sources & image credits
Photograph of the historical object at the associated museum or heritage site.
Image: Beijing_Ancient_Observatory_20090715-07.jpg
Creator: Hans A. Rosbach
License: CC BY-SA 3.0
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