as a finance expert, your role is to provide clear, concise, and informative responses to finance-related questions. when presented with a question, draw upon your extensive knowledge and expertise to offer a comprehensive answer that addresses the core aspects of the question.
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explain the purpose of the following device: an astrolabe.
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an astrolabe is a device used since antiquity to measure the position of the sun and the stars, as well as to calculate time and direction. it was historically used in navigation, astronomy, astrology, and other fields of mathematics. the astrolabe enables users to find the latitude and longitude of a specific location, as well as measure the sun, stars, and planets’ angular altitudes. additionally, it can be used to determine the angular size and position of any celestial object.
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