The Marine Sextant
The sextant derives its name from the
extent of its limb which is the sixth part of
a circle, or 60 degrees.
The marine sextant is a double reflection
instrument, used for measuring angles in
then same plane.
The optical principle involved can be
shown by simple geometry.
Note the arc is graduated into degrees
from right to left from 0 to 120 (sometimes
to 130, 135 0r 140). However the limb is
only 1/6th of a circle due to the instrument
being of double reflection.
To the right of 0 degrees on the arc, is
graduated 5 degrees. This arc of excess is
termed ‘Off the arc’.
To the left of 0 is termed ‘On the arc’.
a.
10
15
20
.4
30
.8
The reading on the Sextant is:
15 degrees 24. 6 minutes
b.
o 5
10
20
.4
.8
The reading on this Sextant is “Off the Arc”
Read as normal then take the MINUTES from 60:
Zero degrees 17.4 subtract from 60 =
42.6
So Zero degrees 42.6 minutes off the arc
SEXTANT
ERRORS
Errors
Adjustable and Non adjustable
3 adjustable errors – operator adjusted
To be checked and corrected in ORDER
1st = Error in Perpendicularity
2nd = Side Error
3rd = Parallelism
Error in Perpendicularity
Index mirror not perpendicular to the plane
of the instrument
Index arm set approximately half way along
the Arc
Looking down the Index mirror check the
True image and the reflected image are
identical
Adjust using 1st adjustment screw (back of
index mirror)
Reflected Image
of Arc
Real Arc
Index Mirror
True and reflected image should be identical and symmetrical, with the both
images flowing smoothly into each other
Reflected Image
of Arc
Real Arc
Index Mirror
True and reflected image are not symmetrical the reflected image is bent –
error exists
Side Error
Horizon mirror not perpendicular to the
plane of the instrument
Set Index arm to zero
Hold the sextant just off the horizontal and
look through the telescope at the horizon
OR
Hold the sextant vertical and look at a
distant light source( star or planet)
If error exists:
T
Method 1
R
Their should be no stepping in the horizon
Method 2
T R
If error exists
Adjust using 2nd adjustment screw (back of
horizon glass, outboard or lower screw)
T R
Parallelism
Horizon mirror and Index mirror not Parallel
to each other
Index mirror at zero
Holding sextant vertical view distant light
source or horizon
If error exists
T R
To remove adjust 3rd adjustment screw
(inner or higher screw on back of Horizon
mirror) T R T R
Index Error
The term now used to describe ALL residual
errors in the Sextant after the adjustable
errors have been removed.
Covers all the non – adjustable errors
These are errors which are mainly from
manufacture
Non adjustable errors – Index Error
Collimation – telescope not parallel with the
plane of the instrument( may be adjustable
on older sextants)
Shade error – shades not perpendicular and
or manufacturing imperfections causing
refraction
Mirrors and lenses imperfectly manufactured
Graduation Error – the degrees or minutes
graduations are not absolutely accurate
Centering error – the index arm is not
located at the middle of a circle, thus it will
describe an elipse and will cause error in
reading
Rack and worm error – wear and tear on the
gearing
Check for Index Error
Rapid method – set sextant to zero and look
at the horizon or distant light source.
If all adjustable errors have been removed
correctly, the object and the reflected image
should be exactly the same.
Any “stepping” in the horizon or star offset
must be due to residual un adjustable errors
Wind the micrometer until a single image is
observed
Note the reading on the micrometer drum
either “on” or “off” the arc, this is then
applied in your calculation
2nd method
Set sextant to zero and use appropriate
shades look at sun – there should be a
single clean image of the sun.
Wind the micrometer forward until the UL of
the reflected image just touches the LL of
the true image
Take a note of the reading – this will be “on”
the arc
Reset to zero and again look at the sun
Wind the micrometer back, until the LL of
the reflected image is just touching the UL of
the true image
Take note of the reading – this will be “off”
the arc
Take the difference between the two
readings and divide by two
This is the “index” error and is named after
the larger of the two readings
The validity can be checked by adding the
two readings and dividing by 4
For that date, check in the Almanac for the
Sun’s “semi diameter”
The two values should be the same
Index Error should not normally be greater
than a few minutes – larger errors indicate
an incorrectly adjusted sextant or damage.
Using the Sextant
Once all errors have been removed or their
value known, the sextant is ready for use
When looking at the Sun ALWAYS use the
shades
If possible set the approximate altitude of
the body
Stand outside with a clear view of the body
and the horizon
Move the index arm forward and bring the
body down on to the horizon – use the
micrometer to for fine adjustment
The upper or lower limb may be used
Once the body is on the horizon – “swing”
the sextant so the body describes an arc-
adjusting the micrometer so that the body is
at a tangent to the horizon
Once you are happy that it is on the horizon
– note the time to the nearest second and
read the sextant.
Check the sextant certificate for error at that
altitude
Commence your calculation
