Sextant mirrors

There are a total of three different horizon mirrors for our sextants:

 Traditional split-view mirror:

It all started with the split-view mirror, which is why we also speak of a traditional split-view mirror. This mirror is fully mirrored on one half.

Advantage:

  • A maximum brightness of the horizon view for twilight observations
  • The edge of the mirror simplifies the vertical orientation of the sextant

 

Disadvantage:

  • Star and horizon are separated
  • The measurement is only possible if the direction to the star is kept exact
  • "Swinging the arc" to find the base point on the horizon is difficult.

 

Full-view mirror:

The full-view mirror is fully half-silvered and thus semi-transparent.

You can look halfway through the mirror in horizon direction and the other half of the viewing beam is mirrored in index direction.

Advantage:

  • The star can easily be kept in the field of view in turbulent seas.
  • Star and horizon are always in view at the same time
  • The observation is simplified

 

Disadvantage:

  • The brightness of the horizon image is reduced due to the semi-transparent mirror that can make twilight observations more difficult

 

Clear-view mirror:

The clear-view mirror was developed by Cassens & Plath. The central vertical part of the mirror is half-silvered and thus semi-transparent.

The sides are not mirrored and offer a clear view of the horizon.

Advantage:

  • Clear view of the horizon
  • Star and horizon are simultaneously in view in the centre
  • Good light conditions at sea by day and night
  • Combines the advantages of the traditional split-view and full-view mirrors
  • Observations are simplified

 

The type of horizon mirror is partly already predefined in our sextant models, as e.g. a Schüler double prism cannot be used with a split-view mirror.

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