L 6 - The Marine Sextant

THE MARINE
SEXTANT
THE NAVIGATOR’S CELESTIAL TOOL
• The sextant is a valuable instrument used to determine the angle
between the horizon and a celestial body like the Sun, Moon or
Star. It is used in celestial navigation to find out the latitude and
longitude.
• Sextant is an essential tool for celestial navigation and is also used by mariners to measure the angle
between the horizon and a visible object (or two objects at sea).
• Hold the sextant vertically and point it in the direction of the celestial body. See the horizon through an
unsilvered part of the horizon mirror. Continue to move or adjust the index arm until the image of the
star/sun, which has been reflected by the index mirror and then by the silvered portion of the horizon
mirror, seems to rest on the horizon.
• The altitude of the celestial body can be determined by reading from the scale on the arc of the
sextant’s frame.
• The sextant is used to measure the following:

• Vertical Sextant Angle (VSA)
• Horizontal Sextant Angle (HSA)
• Altitudes
SEXTANT PARTS
A – Frame
B – Limb
C – Altitude Graduations
D – Index Arm
E – Tangent Screw
F – Release
G – Micrometer Drum
H – Vernier
I – Index Mirror
J – Horizon Glass
K – Shades
L – Telescope
M – Handle
• A sextant is shaped in the form of a sector (60 degrees or
1/6th of a circle). It is the reason the navigational instrument
is called a Sextant (the Latin word for 1/6th is Sextans). The
sector-shaped part is called the frame.
• A horizontal mirror is attached to the frame, along with the

index mirror, shade glasses (sunshades), telescope,
graduated scale and a micrometre drum gauge
OPTICAL PRINCIPLES
• “sextant” from Latin sextans meaning “sixth

part”
• A – celestial body
• B – index mirror
• C – horizon glass
• D – telescope/human eye
A GREAT VIDEO ON USING A SEXTANT AND
READING IT
READING A SEXTANT
A - 29° 47.7’
B - 29° 47.8’
C - 29° 53.7’
D - 29° 42.7’
READING A SEXTANT
0.7’
A - 29° 47.7’
B - 29° 47.8’
C - 29° 53.7’
D - 29° 42.7’
42’ 29 degrees
READING A SEXTANT
A - 30° 47.5’
B - 30° 47.8’
C - 30° 53.7’
D - 30° 42.5’
READING A SEXTANT
A - 30° 47.5’
0.5’ B - 30° 47.8’
C - 30° 53.7’
30 degrees
D - 30° 42.5’
42’
7 SOURCES OF SEXTANT ERROR
Nonadjustable: (instrument error card found on inside of lid of sextant case)
1. Prismatic Error – two faces of the shade glasses and mirrors are not parallel
2. Graduation Error – an incorrectly cut or calibrated micrometer drum and vernier
3. Centering Error – index arm not pivoted at the exact center of curvature of the arc
Adjustable:
4. Perpendicularity of the frame and index mirror
5. Perpendicularity of the frame and the horizon glass
6. Parallelism of the index mirror and horizon glass to each other at zero setting
7. Parallelism of the telescope to the frame
PERPENDICULARITY OF THE INDEX
MIRROR
• Place index arm at 35° on the arc
• Hold the sextant on its side,
with the mirror “up” and
toward the eye
• Observe the direct and reflected
views of the sextant arc
• If the reflected image is above
the direct view, mirror is
inclined forward
• If the reflected image is below
the direct view, mirror is
inclined backwards
• Two screws on back of index
mirror are used for adjustment
PERPENDICULARITY OF THE HORIZON
GLASS
• SIDE ERROR is the result of the horizon glass not being perpendicular to the frame of the sextant
• Mate Sobkow’s preferred method of adjustment:
• Hold the sextant vertical
• Bring the reflected image of the horizon into coincidence with the direct view
• Tilt the sextant right or left
• If the horizon appears continuous, the horizon glass is perpendicular to the frame
• If the reflected portion appears above or below the direct view, side error exists
• Two screws at the back of the horizon glass are used for adjustments
INDEX MIRROR PARALLEL TO THE HORIZON
GLASS WHEN INDEX ARM IS AT ZERO
• Set the instrument at zero
• Direct the line of sight at the horizon
• Side Error having been eliminated, the
horizon and reflected horizon should
be continuous
• Mirrors are not parallel if the reflected
horizon is above or below the direct
horizon
• Two screws on back of horizon glass
are used for adjustment
ERROR OF COLLIMATION
Telescope is parallel to the frame

I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO DO THIS!
INDEX ERROR
• The remaining error in the sextant after four adjustable errors have
been adjusted
• Index Error should be measured every time the sextant is used
• A properly trained navigator should be capable of removing the index
error from a sextant
• “on the arc” – positive error (correction is applied opposite)
• “off the arc” – negative error (correction is applied opposite)
• Index Error should always be checked after Side Error
READING INDEX ERROR
A – 0’ 10” off the

arc
B – 0’ 10” off the
arc
C – 3’ 00” off the
arc
D – 4’ 20” off the
arc
READING INDEX ERROR
A – 0’ 10” off the

arc
B – 0’ 10” off the
arc
C – 3’ 00” off the
arc
D – 4’ 20” off the
arc
READING INDEX ERROR
A – 0’ 20” on the
arc
B – 1’ 00” on the
arc
C – 2’ 00” on the
arc
D – 5’ 10” on the
arc
READING INDEX ERROR
A – 0’ 20” on the
arc
B – 1’ 00” on the
arc
C – 2’ 00” on the
arc
D – 5’ 10” on the
arc
SEXTANT CARE
Tamaya Spica Sextant -

$2,133.98
HOW DO YOU THINK YOU

SHOULD CARE FOR THIS?
CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF A SEXTANT
• Do not put too much stress on the index bar when grasping a sextant
• Never touch the arc. It will smear it. These aren’t oleophobic per se
• Ensure that the worm and rack are clean
• Coat worm and rack with Vaseline when not using it for too long
• Mirrors, lenses and shades should be wiped clean with a soft cloth
• After each use, gently wipe the index mirror, horizon glass
• Put it in the box when not using it
• Do not bump the sextant anywhere
• Avoid exposure to sunlight
• Keep sextant stowed away from direct sunlight, dampness, heaters or blower
THE END

L 6 - The Marine Sextant

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THE MARINE

• The sextant is used to measure the following:

• A horizontal mirror is attached to the frame, along with the

• “sextant” from Latin sextans meaning “sixth

Telescope is parallel to the frame

A – 0’ 10” off the

A – 0’ 10” off the

Tamaya Spica Sextant -

HOW DO YOU THINK YOU

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