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Backstaff Instruments |
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The Back Staff |
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The Back Staff was used to find latitude by measuring the angle between the horizon and the sun. It was designed so that the user does not have to look into the sun to make the measurement. |
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This instrument was used in the 17th through the late 18th centuries. |
The Back Staff was a true revolution in navigational instrumentation. All the instruments prior to the invention of the back staff - the cross staff, astrolabe, quadrant - all required that the user look directly at the sun to take a reading. Not good for the eyes, not to mention lousy for accurate angle measurement. All that changed when John Davis, a 16th century English explorer, hit upon the idea of lining up the horizon with the shadow cast by the sun's rays striking a vane. This allowed the user to stand with his or her back to the sun! Marvelous idea!
This was an extremely accurate instrument and was used well into the 18th century.
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