Convert Sextants to Centesimal Minutes

Convert Sextants (sxt) to Centesimal Minutes (c′) instantly and accurately.

Conversion Formula

c′ = sxt × 6666.666667

About Sextants

A sextant, as an angle unit, equals 1/6 of a full circle - π/3 rad = exactly 60°. The marine sextant (invented ~1730s by John Hadley and Thomas Godfrey) measures the altitude between a celestial body and the horizon; its 60° arc gives 120° measurement range via double reflection. The 60° angle is geometrically fundamental: equilateral triangles, regular hexagons, hexagonal crystal structures, and sp²-hybridised carbon (benzene, graphene) all exhibit 60° symmetry. 1 sextant = 60° = π/3 rad = 100 grad.

About Centesimal Minutes

A centesimal minute (c′) is 1/100 of a gradian - exactly π/20,000 rad ≈ 1.5708 × 10⁻⁴ rad (= 0.9 sexagesimal arcminutes). Also designated cgon (centigon) in ISO/DIN standards. Total stations in the grad system display readings to 1 c′ or 0.1 c′; a right angle = 100 grad = 10,000 c′. A 1% slope ≈ 0.6366 grad ≈ 63.66 c′ - a simple calculation that makes the centesimal minute popular in road and railway alignment. 1 c′ = 0.9′ = 54″ = π/20,000 rad.

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