octants

  1. Home
  2. top of the aat hierarchies
  3. Objects Facet
  4. Furnishings and Equipment (hierarchy name)
  5. Measuring Devices (hierarchy name)
  6. measuring devices (instruments)
  7. [measuring devices for extent]
  8. distance measuring devices
  9. angle measuring devices
  10. vertical angle measuring devices
  11. octants
Scope note
Reflecting navigational instruments used for measuring the altitude of celestial bodies and having an arc of 1/8 of a circle, but due to their reflecting properties can measure up to 90 degrees; invented in the 1730s and used into the 19th century when superseded by sextants.
octants
Accepted term: 10-Mar-2025