Explore tens of thousands of sets crafted by our community.
Medieval Navigational Tools
5
Flashcards
0/5
Compass
A navigational instrument that shows directions in a frame of reference that is stationary relative to the surface of the Earth. The compass points to magnetic north.
Cross-staff
A former navigational instrument used at sea to measure the altitude of stars. It consists of a staff with a moving crosspiece at a right angle.
Astrolabe
An instrument used to make astronomical measurements, typically of the altitudes of celestial bodies, and in navigation for calculating latitude before the development of the sextant.
Nocturnal
A historical astronomical instrument used to determine the time at night by the position of the stars. It was typically used to gauge the time using the Big Dipper or the Little Bear.
Backstaff
A navigational instrument that allows an observer to measure the altitude of a celestial body without directly looking at it. It was an improvement upon earlier instruments like the cross-staff.
© Hypatia.Tech. 2024 All rights reserved.
