While studying explorers, we have been looking at many of the different pieces of technology that helped them navigate across oceans. One of these pieces of technology includes the Astrolabe. Originally invented by the Greeks, the Astrolabe measured the altitude of objects, determined the elevation of the Sun and stars, and also give the time and date. |
The Quadrant, a contemporary of the earlier "Astrolabe," utilized it's location components and helped determine one's position using longitude and latitude degrees. The Sexton was yet another, even more modern, version of the astrolabe, utilizing the component of altitude and elevation readings making it popular among aviators during WWII. |
We created our own "astrolabe/quadrants" then went outside to test them out! We used them to determine the altitude of a myriad of objects including church steeples, playground equipment, trees, and even each other's heads :)