![This is a typical example of a 17th-century English nocturnal, an instrument designed for telling the time at night. It is made of boxwood with a heart shape cut out of the This is a typical example of a 17th-century English nocturnal, an instrument designed for telling the time at night. It is made of boxwood with a heart shape cut out of the](https://images.rmg.co.uk/cdn/rmg/previews/55/7614be2dfa20390f9cbe5310c80d369b/0/b2b1b0ce42ec525c85ac3b44a80890d2/16264.jpg)
This is a typical example of a 17th-century English nocturnal, an instrument designed for telling the time at night. It is made of boxwood with a heart shape cut out of the
Jamestown Settlement & American Revolution Museum at Yorktown - The nocturnal was an instrument used by 17th century navigators to determine time at night. The wooden instrument is engraved with the months
![Nocturnal (instrument) of 1650. Location: MUSEO NAVAL / MINISTERIO DE MARINA. MADRID. SPAIN Stock Photo - Alamy Nocturnal (instrument) of 1650. Location: MUSEO NAVAL / MINISTERIO DE MARINA. MADRID. SPAIN Stock Photo - Alamy](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/PP8T6F/nocturnal-instrument-of-1650-location-museo-naval-ministerio-de-marina-madrid-spain-PP8T6F.jpg)
Nocturnal (instrument) of 1650. Location: MUSEO NAVAL / MINISTERIO DE MARINA. MADRID. SPAIN Stock Photo - Alamy
![Nocturnal (instrument) of 1650. Location: MUSEO NAVAL / MINISTERIO DE MARINA. MADRID. SPAIN Stock Photo - Alamy Nocturnal (instrument) of 1650. Location: MUSEO NAVAL / MINISTERIO DE MARINA. MADRID. SPAIN Stock Photo - Alamy](https://l450v.alamy.com/450v/ppb4y8/nocturnal-instrument-of-1650-location-museo-naval-ministerio-de-marina-madrid-spain-ppb4y8.jpg)