Description and Use

The marine sextant is a precision build

optical instrument which is use for
measuring altitudes and angles.
- Principal use is to measure altitudes of
celestial bodies above the visible horizon.
- It may also be used to measure vertical
angles to find the range from an object of
known height.
Types of Marine Sextant

1. Micrometer Sextant
- Degrees are directly from the arc.
- Minutes of arc are read on the
Micrometer drum.
- Tenths of minutes of arc are read are read
on the Micrometer Vernier.
Types of Marine Sextant
2. Vernier Sextant
- On the arc of the Vernier sextant, each
degree is divided into six divisions of 10
minutes of arc.
- A moving vernier is provided which is
divided into 10 division each of 1 min of
arc.
- This 1 min is further subdivided into six
smaller divisions each of 10 secs of arc.
Difference Between the
Micrometer and Vernier sextant

Lies mainly in the method of

graduating and reading the arc.
Main Use:
- Main navigational use is for measuring
the altitudes of celestial bodies.
Sun
Stars
Moon
Planets
Main part of the Sextant:
1. Frame
2. Handle
3. Telescope or Monocle
4. Rising piece
5. Arc
6. Index Arm
Main part of the Sextant:
7. Clamp
8. Micrometer Drum
9. Micrometer Vernier
10. Electric Light
11. Index Mirror
12. Horizon Mirror
Main part of the Sextant:
13. Index Shades
14. Horizon Shades
Reading the Sextant
Degrees Read directly from the arc of
the sextant.
Minutes To be read directly from the
Micrometer drum
Seconds To be read directly from the
Vernier.
Ex. Demo on Actual Reading
What is the angle in the sextant Reading
as indicated by the following in the
sextant?
Show actual demonstrations!
Sextant Errors
A have the following Adjustable and Non
Adjustable errors:
Adjustable Errors:
1. Perpendicularity Error
2. Side Error
3. Index Error
Sextant Errors
Non-Adjustable Errors:
4. Collimation Error Adjustable by
maker
5. Vernier Error Adjustable by maker
6. Centring Error
7. Graduation Error
8. Micrometer Error
Sextant Errors
Non-Adjustable Errors:
9. Shade Error
10. Prismatic Error
Correcting the Adjustable Error
The first 3 errors must be corrected in the
order stated. Correcting the
Perpendicularity error is referred to as
the 1st Adjustment. Corricting the Side
error as making the 2nd Adjustment and
correcting for index error as making the
3rd Adjustment.
Perpendicularity Error
The Index Mirror must be perpendicular
to the Frame of the Instrument. If not,
Perpendicularity Error is present.
This is referred to as the 1st Adjustment.
Side Error
The Index Mirror must be parallel to the
horizon mirror when the index arm is at
Zero. If not, Index Error is present.
This is referred to as the 2nd Adjustment.
Side Error
The Horizon Mirror must be
perpendicular to the Frame of the
Instrument. If not, Side Error is present.
This is referred to as the 3rd Adjustment.