What navigational device acted as a handheld model of the universe?

Question

Here is the question : WHAT NAVIGATIONAL DEVICE ACTED AS A HANDHELD MODEL OF THE UNIVERSE?

Option

Here is the option for the question :

  • Traverse board
  • Terrestrial globe
  • Erdapfel
  • Astrolabe

The Answer:

And, the answer for the the question is :

ASTROLABE

Explanation:

Until the end of the 1400s, the astrolabe was the go-to instrument for star-based navigation. The angle between the horizon and Polaris, the North Star, was used by the apparatus to calculate latitude. One degree of error on the astrolabe might throw a ship off course by 60 nautical miles.

What navigational device acted as a handheld model of the universe?
The astrolabe is a navigational device that has been used for centuries to help sailors and explorers find their way across the seas. It is also known as a handheld model of the universe, as it was used to measure the position of the stars and planets and calculate the time of day or night.

The astrolabe was first developed by the ancient Greeks in the 2nd century BCE, but it was the Arabs who perfected the device and spread its use across the world. The astrolabe consists of a circular disc with a rotating arm that holds a sighting mechanism. The disc is marked with lines and symbols that correspond to the positions of the stars and planets in the sky.

To use the astrolabe, a navigator would hold it up to the sky and align the sighting mechanism with a particular star or planet. They would then rotate the arm to read the angle between the star or planet and the horizon. This angle could be used to calculate the navigator’s latitude, or their distance north or south of the equator.

The astrolabe was also used to calculate the time of day or night. By measuring the angle of the sun or a particular star, a navigator could determine the time of day or night with remarkable accuracy. This was essential for sailors, as it helped them to navigate the seas and avoid getting lost.

Over the years, the astrolabe evolved to include more advanced features, such as calendars, zodiacs, and even maps. It remained in use until the 18th century, when it was replaced by more advanced navigational instruments like the sextant.

the astrolabe is still revered as a symbol of the ingenuity and scientific knowledge of ancient civilizations. It is also used by historians and archaeologists to study the movements of the stars and planets in the past.

the astrolabe is a navigational device that acted as a handheld model of the universe. It was used to measure the position of the stars and planets, calculate the time of day or night, and help sailors and explorers navigate the seas. The astrolabe is a testament to the scientific knowledge of ancient civilizations and remains an important symbol of human ingenuity.