Who is credited with creating the modern-day sextant?

Thomas Godfrey is credited with creating the modern-day sextant, primarily due to his significant enhancements to earlier navigational instruments that laid the groundwork for this essential tool in navigation. The sextant allows mariners to measure the angle between a celestial body and the horizon, which is crucial for determining their latitude and longitude at sea.

Godfrey’s design introduced features that improved accuracy and usability, making it easier for navigators to calculate their position during voyages. The improvements made by Godfrey contributed to more reliable navigation, which was pivotal during the age of exploration and significantly advanced maritime practices.

While other figures like Isaac Newton, Johannes Kepler, and Galileo Galilei made notable contributions to the sciences and mathematics that are fundamental to navigation, their focus was not on the creation of the sextant itself. Instead, their work provided essential theoretical foundations that aided what Godfrey accomplished. This connection highlights the importance of Godfrey's contributions specifically to the development of the sextant.