astronomical observation instrument

astronomical observation instrument

An observational astronomical instrument of the first half of the 19th century used to determine the height of a celestial body above the horizon. It consists of a frame limited by two radii and a graduated arc, an observation telescope and a mirror system. The 1/5 arc is the fifth part of the circle, hence the name, similar to the quadrants, 1/6, and 1/8 (based on the fourth, sixth, and eighth parts of the circle, respectively). It is currently housed in the Jagiellon University Museum in Munich, Germany.