(03-02-2021, 12:34 AM)craigsl Wrote: How'd it work out for you, Pabrides?
Sounds very interesting the workable.
Craig
Works ok... my eyes are a bit old so a string is a bit of a challenge, but its more fun than a reflecting dish and accurate enough.
The farther the string from the place where you stand the more accurate, given the string is at eye height,, but the farther the string the more difficult to see. You'll just have to experiment to see what works best for you.
The plastic water filled tube works great to provide equal heights of eye and string. its even more accurate than those little bubble levels. The tube is also used to level the string. So, first decide your range. Then you level one string end with eye height at the sextant position. Then level the other string end and double check by measuring the string ends together with the tube. Make sure the string doesn't sag.
Using the tube is kinda tricky at first but you soon learn the best way to measure with it. Just remember that when you adjust either tube end up or down double check the other end that the water level is where you want it. Cant beat mother nature's gravity for accuracy and an unsteady hand to screw it up... lol
One more thing. It works best if you have a way to mark eye height at the sextant position. A tall stake pounded in the ground marked with eye height gives you a permanent range of equal heights. Viewing across the near eye height mark to the string would point directly to the natural horizon... so then you dont have to always wear the same shoes or assume the same posture when taking an observation. An inch or two up or down from the near mark, depending on distance to the string, will probably not make that much difference in the observation.
Good luck. Dont forget to tell us if you try it.
Cheers