How Specific Stars Can Help Sea Travelers Navigate The Ocean

With everything we’ve covered so far, we’re able to determine the four cardinal directions, how far north we are, and an easy way to remember the stars. Given our trusty sextant, a nautical almanac, and a reliable watch, we’re ready to figure out where we are.

If we know the angle of a star above the horizon and the time, we can draw a circle on a map that shows where on the planet that star would be visible at that angle at that particular time. If we repeat the process for another star, we get a second circle. The two points where those circles intersect on the map are our possible positions. Since we already know how to determine our latitude, it’s easy to eliminate one point of intersection, leaving a good approximation of where we are (via SKYbrary).

It may seem like celestial navigation is a relic of a bygone era, but among those who spend time on the water, it is considered an invaluable skill. Today, it is still being taught by the U.S. Navy and has been used by airplane pilots and astronauts to find out where they were. GPS is still the best, but there will always be a place for the stars in navigation.

ncG1vNJzZmhqZGy7psPSmqmorZ6Zwamx1qippZxemLyue82erqxnmKTEbr%2FPnpqinpmYerTAwKuqZpuRo3qpscupZKydkWLBs63VnqOeqqNiu6LCyKCYrZ1dqbWmec6cnJqmXw%3D%3D