SEXTANT, was written on the note I pulled from a hat

The Sextant is an optical instrument used to measure angles between the objects. Mainly used to measure the vertical angle between horizon and a celestial body.
It manipulates light through 2 mirrors to make the 2 inspected objects (which we are looking for the angle in between) look at the same position. The amount of manipulation is being measured and that number is the an angle.

With this “simple” operation (requires practice and precise calibration of the device) + a book + time, one can discover his own location and navigate where there is no others geographic landscape to rely on (i.e. ocean).

The word comes from latin: Sextus = sixth >> Sextans = sixth part. This is because the device is made with an arc of 60 degrees (which is a sixth of a circle – see illustration).

The Sextant is known to be used at sea, and in piloting as it is a simple small and light weight instrument that only requires a book that lists the positions of celestial bodies across time (A know book for that is the H.O. 299).

As of now there are main three directions this research can go:

1. Observing the use of using a Sextant as it reminds me of a gesture thumb to nose or playing the horn or the Shofar. This direction will involve research about this hand gesture and its meaning in different cultures followed by attempting to connect it to the Sextant through symbolicalness or through a deeper meanings of each.
2. As the Sextant allows the user to sight objects (stars, light towers) and to through trigonometry, learn about one’s own position in the space, in a deeper meaning I see a resemblance to todays social media, as it kind of does the same – we measure where other people are and we reflect it on our selves.
3. I always had a sever direction problem. Orientation was always a major weakness for me and this is why the random choosing of the instrument Sextant which is mainly used for navigation, is ironic and interesting. In this direction I will explore my own disorientation and will maybe call it disORYANtation.

Next steps:

About the technology (how it works + tutorial)

Past uses of the device Vs Uses of the technology today

Build one

Similar objects (Microscope, compass, binocular, lenses)

The use of mirrors in other technologies

Analogies: The analogy to the eye and the brain, Social media, Horn/Shofar

Library – books and material about Sextant

A talk with an expert