Sextant to Degree Converter

A sextant is a unit of angular measurement equal to 1/6 of a full rotation, or 60 degrees. It represents one of six equal sections when a circle is divided into six parts.

The sextant as an angular unit is related to the navigational instrument of the same name, developed in the 18th century. The division of circles into six parts (hexagonal division) has ancient roots in geometry, as 60 degrees represents the angle in an equilateral triangle.

Sextants as angular units are rarely used in modern applications, though the 60-degree angle remains important in crystallography, molecular geometry, and some engineering applications. The term is more commonly associated with the navigational instrument rather than the angular unit itself.

A degree (°) is a unit of angular measurement equal to 1/360 of a full rotation. It divides a complete circle into 360 equal parts, making it one of the most widely used angle measurements.

The degree system originated with ancient Babylonian astronomers around 2000 BCE, who used a base-60 number system and divided the circle into 360 degrees. This choice was influenced by their calendar of approximately 360 days and the convenience of 360 being divisible by many numbers. The system was later adopted by Greek astronomers and has remained standard ever since.

Degrees are universally used in navigation, surveying, engineering, architecture, and everyday applications. They're standard for compass bearings, geographic coordinates (latitude/longitude), construction angles, and in most educational contexts. Weather reports, GPS systems, and most angle-measuring tools use degrees.