Faber Optimé - Gettin Sexy!

According with the sextant’s enduring use by world explorers in achieving great feats of global travel, this Travel Bug’s mission is to travel the farthest distances in as few a number of journeys as possible.

The ideal geocaching holiday companion!

One of the primary navigational aids 300 years ago, the sextant is so called because its scale has a length of one sixth of a full circle (60°), from the Latin sextāns.

Simply, a sextant is a device that measures the angle between two objects.

The sextant makes use of two mirrors. With the sextant shown in the following diagram, one of the mirrors (mirror A) is half-silvered, which allows some light to pass through. In navigating, you look at the horizon through this mirror.

The other mirror (mirror B) is attached to a movable arm. Light from an object, let's say the sun (hence the need for the multiple dark filters seen on more elaborate models), reflects off this mirror.

The arm can be moved to a position where the sun's reflection off the mirror also reflects off mirror A and through the eyepiece. What you see when this happens is one object (the sun) superimposed on the other (the horizon). The angle between the two objects is then read off the scale.

What makes a sextant so useful in navigation are its ability to provide exact location by triangulations with the sun/known stars and its accuracy.

It can measure an angle with precision to the nearest ten seconds (a degree is divided into 60 minutes; a minute into 60 seconds).

Using the Sextant

In order to work as intended, a sextant requires both a subject (e.g. an island, a boat, a visible destination) and an object. Typically, the object is above the horizon. At night, objects such as stars and the moon can be used directly. During the day however (because this sextant has no filters), one must use a landmark visible above the horizon (other than the sun).

Do not look at the sun with this sextant!

Rotate the eyepiece so that it is aligned directly at the half mirror.

Looking through the eyepiece, move the sextant so that the object is clearly visible in the middle, above the half mirror.

Level the sextant so that the top of the half mirror is aligned with the horizon.

Holding the sextant steady, move its lever, until the subject is seen in the bottom of the half mirror (vertically below the object).

The number shown on the scale is the angle between the subject and the object.

Problems?

Travel Bugs need maintenance from time to time (as do we all?!). If this one looks in need (or if you would like to know how to make your own capsule), please take a look at the Faber Optimé Travel Bug Maintenance Manual.

A PDF file of the custom stash note for this travel bug can be obtained here.

About Faber Optimé

We aim to deliver excellence, in all of our activities - such as bringing to you curious, interesting and innovative geocaches and geocache items, like this one. Keep your eyes peeled for more of the Faber Optimé Travel Bugs! We're always happy to help fellow geocachers! Please do feel free to get in touch with us on the following contact details. GeoUser:  FaberOptimé Mobile:  +64 21 184 6246 Web:    www.faberoptime.com Email:  info@faberoptime.com