Nautical Octants

Octants are navigational instruments that use a small mirror to bring two images together, i.e. of the sun and the horizon. For example, an octant can be used to determine the latitude at sea by observing the altitude of celestial bodies. An octant has an arc of 45 degrees or more, which can measure angles of 90 degrees or more. Sextant, a modification of octant is still an essential navigation instrument. Just like octants , a sextant is an instrument for determining the angle between the horizon and a celestial body such as the sun, the moon, a star, or a planet and it is used in celestial navigation to determine the location of the observer.

Beautiful and unique, octants are solid brass and hardwood reproduction of an early 1800's measuring instruments. Earlier octants have mahogany frames and boxwood scales that are read by diagonals. Octants made after around 1800 have brass index arms, ebony frames and ivory scales read by verniers. Replicas of the original, the octants manufactured today are generally in perfect working condition. They are usually made of brass and can give accurate measurements. They make wonderful decorative for studies and libraries.