Octant

Description:

Octant with a mahogany frame and index arm. The boxwood scale is graduated every 20 minutes from 0° to 90° and read by transversals to 2 minutes of arc. An inscription penciled on the back of the scale reads: "Capt. Rowland Thompson = Lewes = Delaware 1792." A descendant donated it to the Smithsonian in 1882.

Date Made: ca 1792

Location: Currently not on view

See more items in: Medicine and Science: Physical Sciences, Navigation, Measuring & Mapping

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: George Andrews Thompson

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: PH.308473Catalog Number: 308473Accession Number: 93249

Object Name: Octant

Measurements: radius: 20 in; 50.8 cmoverall: 22 1/4 in x 18 5/8 in x 3 1/2 in; 56.515 cm x 47.3075 cm x 8.89 cmoverall: 3 3/8 in x 18 1/2 in x 22 3/8 in; 8.5725 cm x 46.99 cm x 56.8325 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a9-f8f9-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_1167875

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.