The primary use of a sextant is to measure the angle between an astronomical object and the horizon for the purposes of celestial navigation You can use a sextant to determine the altitude in the sky of the sun, moon, or other celestial bodies relative to the horizon The estimation of this angle, the altitude, is known as sighting or shooting the object, or taking a sight
Quintant Sextant or Lattice Sextant | U.S. Geological Survey
The sextant on the other hand was made specifically for navigation and is a more accurate instrument that allows the users to find both latitude and longitude
It works on a reflection principle and is easier to use compared to the astrolabe.
Practice makes perfect when it comes to using a sextant for navigation says ivar dedekam, author of illustrated navigation In modern usage the term is applied to all modern. A sextant is an old navigational tool that measures elevation using angular distances
