3 Sextant

SEXTANT
Sextant is an optical, handheld instrument designed

to measure the angle (vertical and horizontal)
between two objects with great precision
PRINCIPLES
1.The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of

reflection.
2.When a ray of light suffers two reflections at the
surfaces of two plane mirrors in succession, the angle
between the first ray and the last reflection is double the
angle of inclination of the mirror.
DESCRIPTION
 The main body of the sextant is more or less triangular in

shape.
 The base or ‘limb’ is not straight. It is part of the
circumference of a circle where center is at the apex of the
triangle.
 The arc of this instrument is one-sixth of the circumference of
a circle, hence it is named SEXTANT.
1 The frame is usually constructed of either brass or aluminum or
plastic.
2. The limb is the bottom part of the frame, cut with teeth on
which the micrometer drum rides.
3. The arc refers to the altitude
graduations are inscribed on the
limb.
On many sextants the arc is

marked in a strip of brass, silver
or platinum.
4. The index arm is a movable
bar pivoted about the center of
curvature of the limb, on which
the index mirror and micrometer
drum are fixed.
5. The tangent screw is a screw
gear mounted on the end of the
micrometer drum shaft
Used for moving the index arm

along the arc of the sextant.
6. The release levers are spring-
actuated clamps that hold the
tangent screw in place against
the teeth of the limb.
7. The micrometer drum is graduated in sixty minutes of arc around its
circumference; one complete turn of the drum moves the index arm
one degree of altitude along the arc.
8. The vernier scale, adjacent to the micrometer drum and fixed to the
index arm, allows readings to be made to the nearest tenth of a minute
of arc.
9. The index mirror is a piece of silvered glass mounted on the index
arm, perpendicular to the plane of the instrument, and centered directly
adjacent to the pivot of the index arm.
10. The horizon glass, similar in
construction to the index mirror,
constructed of silvered glass
inserted in the right half of the
frame, perpendicular to the plane
of the sextant.
11. Shade glasses of variable
darkness are mounted on the
frame in front of the index mirror
and horizon glass.
They can be rotated into the line
of sight between the mirrors and
between the observer and the
horizon to reduce the intensity of
the light reaching the eye of the
observer.
12. The telescope screws into an adjustable collar in line with the
horizon glass and amplifies both the reflected and direct images
observed.
13. The handle, made of wood or plastic, is designed to be held in
the right hand during sextant observations.
OPTICAL PRINCIPLE OF THE SEXTANT
SCALE
• On the arc of the frame 0° to

120° are marked.
• When the index arm moves
along the arc, the degrees are
seen through the window.
• This shows that 60 divisions
on the drum equal to one
degree on the arc, i.e. 1° = 60’
and one division on the
micrometer equals to one
minute.
SEXTANT ERRORS
ADJUSTABLE ERROR
1) Error of perpendicularity: The index glass is not perpendicular

to the plane of the instrument
2) Side error: The horizon glass is not perpendicular to the plane

of the instrument.
3) Index error: The index glass and the horizon glass are not
parallel to each other when the index arm is at zero.
4) Collimation error: The telescope is not parallel with the frame.

SEXTANT ERRORS
NON-ADJUSTABLE ERROR
1) Prismatic error: It is faces of the shade glasses, Index mirror

and horizon glass are not parallel.
2) Graduation error: Calibration of the scales of the arc,

micrometer drum or vernier are not proper.
3) Centering error: The index arm is not pivoted at the exact

center of curvature of arc.
USES
The sextant is used for measuring the angle, at the observer’s eye
between:
1) The top of the object such as light house, tower, etc. and the water
line when the sextant held vertically.
2) Two objects on different bearings on shore, with the sextant held

horizontally.
3) A celestial object (sun, moon, stars, or planets) and the horizon.

Getting Started in Celestial Navigation
(The Marine Sextant)
https://youtu.be/DrAkrgZRb9Y

3 Sextant

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SEXTANT

Sextant is an optical, handheld instrument designed

1.The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of

 The main body of the sextant is more or less triangular in

On many sextants the arc is

Used for moving the index arm

• On the arc of the frame 0° to

1) Error of perpendicularity: The index glass is not perpendicular

2) Side error: The horizon glass is not perpendicular to the plane

4) Collimation error: The telescope is not parallel with the frame.

1) Prismatic error: It is faces of the shade glasses, Index mirror

2) Graduation error: Calibration of the scales of the arc,

3) Centering error: The index arm is not pivoted at the exact

2) Two objects on different bearings on shore, with the sextant held

3) A celestial object (sun, moon, stars, or planets) and the horizon.

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