The artificial horizon is a device for taking sun or moon shots without observing the natural horizon.Excellent help for practicing sextant observations at home.The plastic body is to be filled with water or equivalent liquid and must be positioned unmoved.May not be used on sea.Plastic body with glass windows and plastic shades.May not be used for noon shots (only for angles up to 45 degrees). Comes collapsable in a plastic box.

Astronavigation has the status of a secret science from the last millennium - interesting, demanding, completely outdated and far too strenuous. Most water sports enthusiasts only study it - if at all - in preparation for an exam, such as the German Sporthochseeschifferschein (SHS) or the British RYA Yachtmaster Ocean.In the event of a total power failure on board or interference with satellite signals, astronavigation is still regarded as THE backup for GPS & Co. But who can really switch to the navigation system of our ancestors on an ad hoc basis or even has the necessary nautical documents on board?Helmut Hoffrichter has developed a completely computerised method of determining location using the sun and a sextant, which he calls ‘postmodern astronavigation’. The revised, expanded 2025 edition of his book "Postmodern Astronavigation. Travelling with the sun" has been published.The book begins with an easy-to-understand review of the history of astronomical navigation. Hoffrichter then introduces his self-developed app ‘Circle of position navigation’ (Apple) and ‘Sun Navigation’ (Android).A sextant is used to measure the distance to the unmistakable sun. For the sake of simplicity, planets and fixed stars are left out as natural celestial bodies. After measuring the elevation angle, astronavigation traditionally begins with an extensive mathematical calculation and then a graphical approximation method. This was devised in 1875 by the French naval officer Marcq Saint-Hilaire (1832-1889) as an ‘emergency solution’ that was solely due to its time.Although mathematically exact navigation methods have been known since the mid-18th century, the calculation could not be automated without a computer. In Hoffmeister's app, the elevation angle measurements can simply be entered on a mobile device. Of course, the tablet or smartphone would have to run independently of the on-board power supply failure.The long-displaced methods of mathematicians Johannes Keppler (1571-1630) and Leonhard Euler (1707-1783) as well as the ephemeris are stored in the software, which performs the location calculation at lightning speed. After using the sextant, ‘postmodern astronavigation’ is as easy to use as the familiar satellite navigation on the chart plotter. Extensive nautical documentation is not required, nor do you have to do any calculations or drawings yourself.With ‘postmodern astronavigation’, a location can be determined more precisely with the help of the sun than with the Saint Hilaire altitude difference method. Since this does not even require a gissort, the art of earlier navigators is simplified to such an extent that a genuine, easy-to-use, practical navigation backup is now available.The chapters in detailHistory of astronavigationThe Sun Navigation appA little sextant loreAnalytical position determinationDead reckoningGreat circle calculationThe equation of timeAppendix, including an extract from the 1809 publication by Carl Friedrich Gauss (1777-1855) in which he solves the two-height problem188 pages, 70 illustrations and 15 tables, format 14.8 x 21 cm, hardback. German edition.

The artificial navigation horizon is required to measure the celestial altitude with the sextant when there is no horizon visibility, for example at night, in ground fog, when travelling under land or for land navigation.The artificial horizon can be used on all CASSENS & PLATH sextants that are equipped with illumination because it requires a power supply. These are the sextant models Horizon Ultra, Polaris, Bobby Schenk and Professional (with illumination).The artificial horizon can be easily exchanged for the normal sextant telescope thanks to its clamping screw. No adjustment is necessary.The device is used as a normal sextant telescope (3 x 25 mm) with a bubble level inserted into the optical path. A crosshair and the dragonfly bubble appear against a red illuminated background. A dimmer allows the brightness to be optimally adjusted to the external light conditions. An additional shade glass can be attached to the lens for solar observations.The artificial horizon is suitable for navigation and is approved for commercial shipping under BSH/047/01/78.For purely training purposes, the artificial training horizon (Article-No. 3716-113) is an inexpensive alternative. You will find this further down the page under "Similar products".

BOBBY SCHENK model with many ideas developed by an experienced bluewater sailor incorporated. - Full horizon mirror for good view on the solar bodies and easy handling, - indirect anti-glare lighting - 7 shaded glasses, - telescope 4 x 40. The white colour keeps it from heating up in the sun.Weight 1.85 kg.Comes with sextant engraving and a mahogany case.An optional accessory is a small chronograph (quarz watch) to identify the meter reading time.