Sight (device)


A sight or sighting device is any device used to assist in precise visual alignment of weapons, surveying instruments, aircraft equipment, optical illumination equipment or larger optical instruments with the intended target. Sights can be a simple set or system of physical markers that serve as visual references for directly aligning the user's line of sight with the target, or optical instruments that provide an optically enhanced—often magnified—target image aligned in the same focus with an aiming point. There are also sights that actively project an illuminated point of aim onto the target itself so it can be observed by anyone with a direct view, such as laser sights and infrared illuminators on some night vision devices, as well as augmented or even virtual reality-enabled digital cameras with software algorithms that produce digitally enhanced target images.

Iron sights

At its simplest, a sight typically has two components, front and rear aiming pieces that have to be lined up. Sights such as this can be found on many types of devices including weapons, surveying and measuring instruments, and navigational tools.
On weapons, these sights are usually formed by rugged metal parts, giving them the name "iron sights", as distinct from optical or computing sights. On many types of weapons they are built-in and may be fixed, adjustable, or marked for elevation, windage, target speed, etc. They are also classified in forms of notch or aperture. These types of sights can require considerable experience and skill, as the user has to hold proper eye position and simultaneously focus on the rear sight, the front sight, and a target, all at different distances, and align all three planes of focus.

Optical sights

Optical sights use optics that give the user an enhanced image with an aligned aiming point or pattern superimposed onto the target image, preferably at the same focal plane.

Telescopic sights

A telescopic sight is a refracting telescope equipped with some form of referencing pattern mounted in an optically appropriate position in the optical system to give an accurate aiming point. Telescopic sights are used on a wide range of devices including guns, surveying equipment, and even as sights on larger telescopes.

Reflector sights

Another type of optical sight is the reflector sight, a generally non-magnifying optical device that allows the user to look through a glass element and see a reflection of an illuminated aiming point or some other image superimposed on the field of view. These sights have been around for over 100 years and have been used on all types of weapons and devices.
Reflector sights were first used as a weapon sight in German aircraft towards the end of World War I. Over the years they became more sophisticated, adding lead computing gyroscopes and electronics radar range finding and other flight information in the 1950s and 1960s, eventually becoming the modern head-up display.

Other types of optical sights

There are many types of sighting devices. They can be fixed, mechanical, optical, computational, or a mixture of all of these attributes.