Principles of Marine
Sextant
Group Charlie
Introduction
A marine sextant is nothing more than a device designed to measure the angledevice designed
to measure the angle between two objects with a great deal ofbetween two objects with a great
deal of precision.precision.
in celestial navigation, these two objectsIn celestial navigation, these two objects areare
• a celestial body (star, sun, moon, ora celestial body (star, sun, moon, or planet)planet)
• the visible horizonthe visible horizon
How do you use a sextant?
Now that you understand how a sextant works, you are probably keen to move on to actually using your
instrument.
In summary, you can follow these basic steps.
1. Plan the time and location of your sights.
2. Pick up and hold your sextant correctly.
3. Correct your sextant for all correctable errors.
4. Locate the celestial body you are measuring by using your sextant as a telescope.
5. Bring the celestial body in line with the horizon.
6. Read the altitude of the celestial body using the arc and micrometer.
How accurate is a sextant?
Sextants have a micrometer or vernier that measures angles to an accuracy of 0.1
minutes of arc. This means that the sextant is accurate to within 0.002°.
When used for navigation, however, other errors often multiply throughout the process
resulting in a final positional accuracy within a few miles.
Introduction
A marine sextant is nothing more than a device designed to measure the angledevice designed
to measure the angle between two objects with a great deal ofbetween two objects with a great
deal of precision.precision.
in celestial navigation, these two objectsIn celestial navigation, these two objects areare
• a celestial body (star, sun, moon, ora celestial body (star, sun, moon, or planet)planet)
• the visible horizonthe visible horizon
Use of Sextant
A sextant is used to determine the sextantA sextant is used to determine the sextant altitude (hs) of a
celestial body.altitude (hs) of a celestial body.
First, we have to decide which stars toFirst, we have to decide which stars to observe; this is done
using a Rudeobserve; this is done using a Rude Starfinder or other methods.Starfinder or other methods.
When making an observation, the starWhen making an observation, the star should look as shown in
the next slide
Determination of Observed
Altitude (Ho)Altitude (Ho)
We must make some corrections to hs to come up with the
Ho, which we need tocome up with the Ho, which we need to
use the altitude-intercept method.use the altitude-intercept
method.
Determination of Observed Altitude
(Ho)Altitude (Ho)
These corrections account for
• index error (error in the sextant itself)
• difference between visible and celestial
difference between visible and celestial horizon, due to the observer’s height ofhorizon, due
to the observer’s height of eyeeye
• adjustment to equivalent reading at theadjustment to equivalent reading at the center of the
earth and the center of thecenter of the earth and the center of the bodybody
• refractive effects of the earth’srefractive effects of the earth’s atmosphereatmosphere
Index Correction
• There may be some error present
in the sextant itself; this is known
as index error.sextant itself; this is
known as index error.
• Thisis is easily determined by
setting the sextant to zero and
observing the horizon;sextant to
zero and observing the horizon; if
there is no error, the view looks like
theif there is no error, the view
looks like the
Index Correction
To account for this error, we apply anTo account
for this error, we apply an index correction
Dip Correction
Next, we must account for the difference between the celestial horizon and
thebetween the celestial horizon and the visible horizon, due to our height of
eye.visible horizon, due to our height of eye.
This is known as the dip correction.This is known as the dip correction.
The need for this correction is illustrated
Dip Correction
The dip correction is dependent upon the observer’s height of eye.observer’s
height of eye.
Values of the dip correction are tabulatedValues of the dip correction are
tabulated inside the front cover of theinside the front cover of the Nautical
Almanac.
Altitude Correction
The last major correction accounts for the refractive effects of the earth’srefractive effects of
the earth’s atmosphere.atmosphere.
This correction is known as the altitude correction and is tabulated inside the frontcorrection
and is tabulated inside the front cover of thecover of the Nautical AlmanacNautical Almanac
Determination of Ho
The corrections needed to convert from the sextant altitude (hs) to observed the
sextant altitude (hs) to observed altitude (Ho) arealtitude (Ho) are IC (sextant error)
• Dip (height of eye)Dip (height of eye)
• Altitude (refractive effects)Altitude (refractive effects)
Additional Corrections
If we are using the sun, moon, or planets,If we are using the sun, moon,
or planets, the problem becomes a bit morethe problem becomes a bit
more complicated.complicated.
In addition to the corrections we already mentioned, we must also accout
for
• horizontal parallax (sun, moon, Venus,horizontal parallax (sun, moon,
Venus, and Mars)and Mars)
• semidiameter of the body (sun andsemidiameter of the body (sun and
moon)moon)
• augmentation (moon)augmentation (moon)
Parts of Sextant
The frame.
This is either of rigid metal construction or moulded plastic. It incorporates three legs upon which the
sextant rests when in the horizontal position. The upper side of the frame is referred to as the Plane of
the instrument. The curved, lower part of the frame is referred to as the lower limb of the instrument.
The handle.
The handle is fitted with a button switch and has a compartment for batteries to power the electric light
on the index arm.
The telescope or prismatic monocle.
This is used to enlarge the observed object and to make accurate observations easier. The telescope
usually has a magnification of 4 X and a field of view of 5°. The monocle on the other hand has a
magnification of 6 X and a field of view of 8½°. Higher magnification is desirable when observing vertical
sextant angles of distant shore objects to obtain a clearer view of the sun’s lower limb when taking
sights.
Parts of the Sextant
The rising piece.
The telescope or monocle is attached to the frame by and adjustable slide or rising piece which is fitted with a
milled head quick release screw. By adjusting the rising piece the telescope is brought closer to or further from
the frame. This adjustment alters the area of the horizon mirror viewed through the telescope and hence alters
the brilliance of the reflected image.
The arc.
If the sextant is of the metal variety, the arc will be constructed of a thin strip of metal which has a low co-
efficient of expansion. It is “let in” flush with the “lower limb” of the sextant and is graduated from 0° to 120°
“on” the arc and from 0° to -5° “off” the arc.
The index arm.
The index arm is mounted on a circular base plate and is free to rotate on a central axis underneath the index
mirror. The arrow of the index arm is known as the index mark.
The clamp.
By exerting finger pressure, the clamp disengages
Parts of the Sextant or unclamps the index arm from the gearing cut
into the lower limb of the sextant. The index arm
can then be moved to the required angle. On
releasing pressure, the index arm is automatically
clamped in position.
The worm and rack.
The worm is an endless tangent screw which
engages with the rack or gearing which is cut into
the lower limb of the sextant. Exerting pressure on
the quick release clamp disengages the worm
from the rack and allows the index arm to be
moved.
The micrometer drum.
While whole degrees are read directly from the arc,
minutes of arc are read from the micrometer drum.
Turning the micrometer drum screws the worm
along the rack and permits fine adjustment of an
observed angle or altitude.
The micrometervernier. The micrometervernier has five
or six graduations which correspond to 0.2’ or 10” of arc
respectively. Minutes of arc are read off the micrometer
drum opposite the vernier index mark. Seconds or
decimals of a minute of arc are read where one of the
vernier graduations lines up perfectly with one of the
minute graduations on the micrometer drum.
The electric light. The light bulb is contained in a special
holder so arranged that the light illuminates the arc,
micrometer drum and vernier. It is operated by pressing
the button(s) in the handle and is useful for taking
twilight sights.
Index mirror. The index mirror is rectangular in shape
and set in a frame attached to the moveable index arm.
When properly adjusted it should be perpendicular to
the plane of the instrument. Its purpose is to reflect light
to the horizon mirror.
