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View synonyms for celestial navigation

celestial navigation

noun

  1. navigation by means of observations made of the apparent position of heavenly bodies.


celestial navigation

noun

  1. navigation by observation of the positions of the stars Also calledastronavigation
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


celestial navigation

  1. Navigation of a ship or aircraft based on the observed positions of celestial bodies.


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Word History and Origins

Origin of celestial navigation1

First recorded in 1935–40
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Example Sentences

Dr. Sharvit speculated that, lacking compasses, astrolabes or sextants, seafarers in the 14th century B.C. probably relied on celestial navigation, taking sightings and angles of the sun and star positions.

Deep Sea Vision searched the ocean floor using what searchers have called the “Date Line theory,” which holds that Noonan miscalculated his celestial navigation when the pair flew across the International Date Line, throwing off their route by about 60 miles, according to a statement from the company.

The year is 1937, and a plane equipped with all of the latest equipment — relying on both radio and celestial navigation and flown by one of the most famous aviators in the world — goes missing in the Pacific Ocean.

“They looked at the sky differently than most people and used celestial navigation to become the world’s greatest explorers. They were wayfinders, working with a thousand points of light in the sky to find their way to the islands dotting the Pacific!”

Some examples of ancient TEK include midwifery, celestial navigation and fish conservation.

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