Octant

Description

Octant with 17" ebony frame and limb, brass index arm, inlaid ivory scale with diagonal divisions and ivory plate marked 'George Morris 1755', probably English, maker unknown, 1755

Museum reference

T.1876.11

Collection

History of Science

Object name

Octant, Box

Production information

Unknown
England, Northern Europe

Date

1755

Materials

Ebony, Anodised brass, Wood, Brass, Glass, Ivory, Ivory, Ivory, Mahogany

Physical description

Ebony, ivory scale and plate, brass arm, glass mirror

Associations

Previous owner: Morris, George, 1755 (fl.)

Exhibitions

• Earth in Space (29 Jul 2011)
  National Museum of Scotland

References

Bennett, J.A., The Divided Circle: A History of Instruments for Astronomy, Navigation and Surveying, Oxford, 1987, pp 132-4

Clifton, Directory, 5, 267

On display

national museum of scotland »
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earth in space »
space (navigation)