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Old navigational instruments. Sextant. 19th-20th centuries
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Old navigational instruments. Sextant. 19th-20th centuries
Old navigational instruments. Sextant. 19th-20 th centuries. Museum of History and Navigation. Riga. Latvia
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Media ID 14330760
© Thaliastock / Mary Evans
Angle Celestial Instrument Latvia Latvian Navigation Navigational Riga Sextant
EDITORS COMMENTS
1. Title: "A Window to the Cosmos: Old Sextants and the Art of Celestial Navigation in 19th-20th Century Europe" 2.. This evocative photograph captures a collection of antique sextants, displayed proudly in the Museum of History and Navigation in Riga, Latvia. Sextants, essential navigational instruments used for measuring angles between any two visible objects, played a pivotal role in maritime exploration and cartography during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The intricate design of these instruments reflects the ingenuity and craftsmanship of their time. The brass body, polished to a mirror-like sheen, houses a series of adjustable mirrors and lenses that enable the user to measure the angle between a known celestial body and the horizon. The delicate graduations etched onto the arc, as well as the precision of the adjustments, attest to the meticulous attention to detail required in their construction. The sextant's reliance on celestial navigation, a method that predated the invention of the marine chronometer, made it an indispensable tool for European explorers and sailors. With the sextant, they could determine their latitude at sea, allowing them to navigate more accurately and safely. As we gaze at this assemblage of historical sextants, we are transported back in time to an era when the vast expanse of the ocean was a largely uncharted frontier. These instruments, relics of a bygone age, serve as a testament to the human spirit of adventure and discovery that has shaped our world. The Museum of History and Navigation in Riga, Latvia, is a treasure trove of maritime history, preserving and showcasing a diverse range of navigational instruments, charts, and artifacts. A visit to this museum offers a fascinating glimpse into the rich history of European navigation and its impact on our global understanding of the world.
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