What was the primary function of the specialized Mariner's Astrolabe?
Answer
Measuring the altitude of the Sun or Polaris to find latitude
The Mariner's Astrolabe was simplified primarily to measure the altitude of the Sun or Polaris above the horizon, enabling navigators to find their latitude, sacrificing time calculation capabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the primary handheld instrument used by astrologers and astronomers for centuries?What fundamental geometric feat does the core concept of the astrolabe achieve?What practical calculation could manipulating the astrolabe determine besides charting horoscopes?What is the name for the main body or thick, shallow metal disk that serves as the frame of a planispheric astrolabe?What component of the astrolabe is engraved with lines representing the horizon and altitude circles for a specific latitude?Which visually striking, openwork plate on the astrolabe maps the positions of prominent fixed stars?What component is mounted on the back of the astrolabe and rotates on the central pin for sighting celestial bodies?During which historical era was the astrolabe significantly refined, standardized, and evolved into its complex portable form?What was the primary function of the specialized Mariner's Astrolabe?Which version of the astrolabe is fundamentally characterized as a scholarly or fixed-location device requiring a correct latitude plate?What specific markings are featured on the rete to indicate the locations of fixed stars?