sextant

Vocabulary Word

Definition

A 'sextant' is a specialized navigational tool. Sailors and explorers use it to measure the angle between a heavenly object, like a star or the sun, and the horizon. This tells them how far north or south they are from the equator.

Examples in Different Contexts

In environmental studies, 'sextant' might represent precision tools used to assess ecological conditions. A scientist could say, 'Utilizing advanced sensors as our sextant, we measure environmental parameters to study climate patterns.'

Practice Scenarios

Maritime

Scenario:

The GPS system is malfunctioning, and we might need to navigate in a more traditional manner.

Response:

I'll use the sextant we have on board to help us determine our latitude.

Aerospace

Scenario:

We've lost contact with ground control. We'll have to navigate using the stars until we reestablish connection.

Response:

We'll use the sextant to compute our angles with reference to the observed heavenly bodies.