SEXTANT

PRESENTED BY: GROUP 1

 MEMBERS:
• D/C Bryan Kenneth Arguelles
• D/C Christian Len Arcilla
• D/C Dej Alutaya
• D/C Jhudiel Carlo Andoy
• D/C Van Allen Acson
• D/C Vann Klent Alesna
 What is Sextant?

• The sextant is an instrument used to measure angles. Mainly used at sea, the tool is so
named because its arc is one-sixth of a circle – 60 degrees. It adheres to the principle of
double reflection hence it can measure angles up to 120 degrees. Practically speaking,
the arc of the sextant is a little over 60 degrees and therefore the total angle measurable
is about 130 degrees. Sextant is an essential tool for celestial navigation and is used to
measure the angle between the horizon and a visible object (or two objects at sea.
• The sextant is used to measure the following:
• Vertical Sextant Angle (VSA)
• Horizontal Sextant Angle (HSA)
• Altitudes
 HISTORY

• The first sextant was produced by John Bird in 1759. This is a very early
example of his work now in the Nederlands Scheepvaart Museum in
Amsterdam. The frame is mahogany with an ivory scale. It is so large and
heavy that it needed a support that fitted into a socket on the observer's
belt.
• Although Bird invented the sextant, it was based off models of the octant
by John Hadley and Thomas Godfrey, who in turn actually based their
work off of Isaac Newton, who came up with the theory behind the
instrument in 1699.
 PRINCIPLE OF SEXTANT
• When a ray of light is reflected by a plane mirror, the angle of the incident
ray is equal to the angle of the reflected ray, when the incident ray,
reflected ray and the normal lie on the same plane
• When a ray of light suffers two successive reflections in the same plane by
two plane mirrors, the angle between the incident ray and the reflected ray
is twice the angle between the mirrors
PARTS OF SEXTANT
• The sextant is made up of the following parts:

• The frame.
• The handle.
• The telescope or monocle.
• The rising piece.
• The arc.
• The index arm.
• The clamp.
• The worm and rack.
• The micrometer drum.
• The micrometervernier.
• Electric light.
• The index mirror.
• The index mirror clips.
• The index mirror (first) adjustment screw.
• The index mirror shades.
• The horizon mirror.
• The horizon mirror clips.
• The horizon mirror (second) adjustment screw.
• The horizon mirror (third) adjustment screw.
• The horizon mirror shades.
ERRORS OF SEXTANT
 Adjustable Errors
• Error of Perpendicularity: This is caused when the index glass is not
perpendicular to the plane of the instrument.
• Side Error: This is caused by the horizon glass not being perpendicular to
the plane of the instrument.
• Error of Collimation: This is due to the axis of the telescope not being
parallel to the plane of the instrument.
 Non-adjustable Errors
• Graduation Error: Due to the inaccurate graduation of the main scale on the
arc or of the micrometre
• Centring Error: Caused if the pivot of the index bar is not situated at the
geometric centre of the arc. This can be caused due to a manufacturing defect
or due to careless handling.
• Shade Error: The shades should be so mounted that their glass surfaces are
normal to the rays of light passing through them. If not, the distortion would
result. The greater number of shades used, the greater the chances of distortion.