ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Bris sextant

Okay kiddo, so a bris sextant is a tool that helps people figure out where they are when they're out on a boat in the ocean. You know how when you're playing hide and seek, you can't find your friends if they're hiding behind something? It's kind of like that, but with the whole world.

The bris sextant has a round, flat piece of glass called a horizon mirror. When you look into the sextant, you can see the horizon reflected in the mirror. There's also a smaller mirror that you can move up and down, which reflects light onto the horizon mirror.

When you're on a boat in the ocean, you can use the bris sextant to measure the angle between the horizon and a star, sun, or other landmark. This angle helps you figure out where you are on the map. Kind of like playing "connect the dots" with the stars in the sky!

So, when you're navigating on a boat and you need to figure out where you are, you can use a bris sextant to help you find your way. Just like how you use clues to find your friends when you're playing hide and seek!