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A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: Sextant Stand
From: Robin Stuart
Date: 2025 Apr 8, 06:42 -0700
From: Robin Stuart
Date: 2025 Apr 8, 06:42 -0700
DavidP,
You raise an interesting point about the orientation of sextant. The description states "A sextant on a stand was considered useful for many astronomical measurements, especially on expeditions or other observing trips". I don't see a stand being very practical aboard ship so I think you are probably correct that it would have been used with an artificial horizon.
In the same display case there was also a reflecting circle on stand that was also directed downwards. Further images of this item can be found here https://hsm.ox.ac.uk/collections-online#/item/hsm-catalogue-818
Regards,
Robin
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