backstaff Synonyms
No Synonyms and anytonyms found
backstaff Meaning
backstaff (n.)
An instrument formerly used for taking the altitude of the heavenly bodies, but now superseded by the quadrant and sextant; -- so called because the observer turned his back to the body observed.
backstaff Sentence Examples
- The backstaff, a historical navigational tool, played a crucial role in seafaring during the Age of Exploration.
- Captain Cook relied heavily on the backstaff during his voyages, employing it to calculate longitude accurately.
- The principle of the backstaff involves measuring the angular distance between the horizon and a celestial object.
- Unlike the astrolabe, the backstaff can be used effectively even when the horizon is not clearly visible.
- By constructing lines of sight with the celestial object and the horizon, navigators could determine their latitude using the backstaff.
- The backstaff's versatility made it a staple navigational instrument on ships, particularly during the 16th and 17th centuries.
- Portuguese navigators pioneered the development of the backstaff, attributing its invention to Diogo Gomes.
- The backstaff remained a valuable navigational tool until the introduction of more advanced instruments like the sextant.
- Historic museums and maritime exhibits often display backstaffs to showcase the ingenuity of ancient navigators.
- Despite modern navigational technologies, the backstaff's historical significance as a navigational marvel endures to this day.
FAQs About the word backstaff
An instrument formerly used for taking the altitude of the heavenly bodies, but now superseded by the quadrant and sextant; -- so called because the observer tu
No synonyms found.
No antonyms found.
The backstaff, a historical navigational tool, played a crucial role in seafaring during the Age of Exploration.
Captain Cook relied heavily on the backstaff during his voyages, employing it to calculate longitude accurately.
The principle of the backstaff involves measuring the angular distance between the horizon and a celestial object.
Unlike the astrolabe, the backstaff can be used effectively even when the horizon is not clearly visible.
