SEXTANT ERRORS

Sextant errors can be classified as "adjustable" or "non-adjustable" errors.

ADJUSTABLE ERRORS.

First Adjustment; Error of Perpendicularity.

The Index Mirror must be set so that it is perpendicular to the plane of the instrument.

Set the Index Arm approximately in the center of the Arc. The Arc of the instrument viewed directly
should be coincident with the reflected arc of the instrument viewed in the Index Mirror.

Error of Perpendicularity should be removed using the First Adjustment Screw. (Back of the Index
Mirror.)

Second Adjustment; Side Error.

The Horizon Mirror must be set so that it is perpendicular to the plane of the instrument. Side Error
causes a lateral displacement of the images when an object is observed.

There are 2 common methods to check for Side Error:

1. Set the Index Arm at zero and holding the instrument tilted at approximately 45°,
view the horizon. The true and reflected images of the horizon will appear continuous
if no Side Error exists.

2. Set the Index Arm at zero and holding the instrument vertically view a distant source
of light e.g. star. Side Error will produce a double image, horizontally displaced.

Side Error should be removed using the Second Adjustment Screw. (Back of the Horizon Mirror,
furthest from the plane of the instrument.)

Third Adjustment; Error of Parallelism.

The Index Mirror and the Horizon Mirror must be parallel when the Index Arm is set at zero.

There are 2 common methods to check for Parallelism:

1. Set the Index Arm at zero and holding the instrument vertically view the horizon. The
true and reflected images of the horizon will appear continuous if no Parallelism exists.

2. Set the Index Arm at zero and holding the instrument vertically view a distant source of
light e.g. star. Parallelism will produce a double image, vertically displaced.

Parallelism should be removed using the Third Adjustment Screw. (Back of the Horizon Mirror,
closest to the plane of the instrument.)

NOTE. When correcting for Parallelism, Side Error may be induced. Further checks for Side Error
and Parallelism should be made until it is verified that both errors have been removed.
The Third Adjustable Error is sometimes named as Index Error. In these cases the error is not
removed but found and compensated for by calculation. As the third error can be removed, there is no
logical reason not to remove it.

It is preferred that the term Index Error is used to define the residual errors which remain after the
three adjustable errors have been removed. The effect of these residual errors has to be compensated
for by calculation.

NON-ADJUSTABLE ERRORS.

Collimation. The telescope must be parallel to the plane of the instrument. (Modern sextants do not
permit any adjustments but older sextants were equipped with adjustment screws and cross wire
viewers.)

Optical Errors. The mirrors, shades, prisms or telescope lenses may not be perfectly manufactured,
resulting in refraction and / or blurring of the image.

Centring Error. The pivot about which the Index Arm moves must be at the centre about which the
Arc has been constructed. If Centring Error exists it will affect the full range scale.

Graduation / Scale Error. Imprecise manufacture or wear and tear of the worm and rack mechanism
may produce errors and distortions in the observed altitude.

Vernier Error. Older sextants used a vernier scale to read the altitude. Modern sextants use a vernier
scale to determine the decimal places of a minute. Poor manufacturing and / or inaccurate marking of
the vernier could produce errors.

INDEX ERROR (IE)

* The term ‘Index Error’ is used to represent the residual errors, i.e. after the three ‘Adjustable
Errors’ have been removed.

* The residual errors are determined by the manufacturer at the time the instrument is
manufactured. This is done at various altitudes, usually every 10° or 15°. A certificate is
issued, dated and the sextant serial number noted

* Index Error is termed "on the arc" or "off the arc"

* Index Error "on the arc" is subtracted from the sextant reading to obtain the true reading.

* Index Error "off the arc" is added to the sextant reading to obtain the true reading.

Should the mariner wish to have his sextant Index Error re-checked he / she should return it to the
manufacturer.

A final check can be made by the Mariner to help ensure that the three adjustable errors have been
removed correctly. (This method is also used by those who do not remove the third adjustable error,
but assess and allow for it.)

With the Index Arm set at zero and suitable shades used, the sun is observed. The Arc is then
advanced until the edge of the reflected image is just in contact with the edge of the true image. The
reading ‘on the arc’ is noted. The Arc is zeroed and then retarded until the edge of the reflected image
is again just in contact with the edge of the true image. The reading ‘off the arc’ is noted.
If the three adjustable errors have been removed correctly the ‘on the arc’ reading should be the same
as the ‘off the arc’ reading. The validity of this check can be demonstrated by dividing the sum of the
readings by 4, which will give the observed semi-diameter of the sun, which can then be checked in
the Nautical Almanac for that date.

If the readings differ then the three adjustable errors should be rechecked.

If this method is used to find the Index Error (really the Error of Parallelism) then the difference
between the two readings is divided by 2 and named after the greater reading.
Sextant Geometrical Proof:

In ▲ IZH, a=Z+b (External angle = Sum of two interior opposite angles)

Or 2a = 2Z + 2b ……….. (i)

In ▲ HIE, 2a = E + 2b ……….. (ii)

Equating (i) and (ii), we get

2Z + 2b = E + 2b

Or 2Z = E

a I Z
a

b
H b E