An astrolabe is a primitive angle-measuring tool. It can be used to - very in-exactly! - measure the altitude above the horizon of a celestial body like the Sun, Moon or Polaris in order to calculate your position.
Medieval gunners used the astrolabe to calculate the height of towers and buildings, in order to more accurately aim their cannons.
This depends entirely on the federal position in question, but an example of an analogous position would the position of the state legislature as contrasted with the Congress.