Cassens & Plath Sextant PROFESSIONAL Traditional split-view mirror

Sextant frame and construction

The frame is made from a 5.5 kg brass plate, which is milled to produce a frame weighing approx. 0.6 kg. Once the milling work is complete, the frame is heated in a furnace, straightened, ground and engraved. The individual components are then assembled. Once manufactured, the sextant consists of over 100 individual parts, most of which are produced in-house. All components are assembled and adjusted by hand. Each sextant is tested after manufacture and a quality certificate is issued.

Traditional split-view

A sextant is traditionally equipped with a split-view, which means that only half of the horizon mirror is mirrored. The right half consists of a mirrored surface, while the left surface is transparent. This allows the horizon and the mirrored celestial body to be displayed side by side. The resulting mirror edge facilitates the vertical orientation of the sextant. It also provides maximum light output for observations at dusk. Because the celestial body and the horizon are spatially separated, it is more difficult to find the direction of the celestial body, allowing it to be superimposed on the horizon.