Enlightenment · Europe · Science

1730

Hadley's Reflecting Octant

June 1, 1730

John Hadley, an English mathematician, demonstrated his new reflecting octant to the Royal Society. Using two mirrors, it could measure angles to the sun with unprecedented accuracy from the heaving deck of a ship. The sextant, as it came to be called, would be the navigator's essential instrument into the satellite age.

More from 1730 Enlightenment

In context

Also in 1730 (2 other events on record)

Tulip Era Ends in Revolt · Middle East · Politics
Réaumur's Thermometer Scale · Europe · Science

Before and after in Europe

Before: October 1, 1729: A Modest Proposal
After: June 9, 1731: Treaty of Vienna

Before and after in Science

Before: March 31, 1727: Death of Isaac Newton
After: December 1731: Sextant Independently Invented

Era

Enlightenment (1651–1800), one of 696 events from that era on Saeculum.