Reflecting Instrument
Reflecting instruments are those that use mirrors to enhance their ability to make measurements. In particular, the use of mirrors permits one to observe two objects simultaneously while measuring the angular distance between the objects. While they are used in many professions, they are primarily associated with celestial navigation, as the need to solve navigation problems, in particular the problem of the longitude, was the primary motivation in their development.
Read more about Reflecting Instrument: Objectives of The Instruments, Early Reflecting Instruments, The Octant, The Sextant, Types of Sextants
Famous quotes containing the words reflecting and/or instrument:
“Women have served all these centuries as looking-glasses possessing the magic and delicious power of reflecting the figure of man at twice its natural size.”
—Virginia Woolf (1882–1941)
“The law is not a “light” for you or any man to see by; the law is not an instrument of any kind. The law is a causeway upon which so long as he keeps to it a citizen may walk safely.”
—Robert Bolt (1924–1995)