celestial navigation

American  

noun

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

---

celestial navigation British  

noun

1. Also called: astronavigation.  navigation by observation of the positions of the stars

---

celestial navigation Scientific  

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

2. See more at altazimuth coordinate system

---

Etymology

Origin of celestial navigation

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

She also knows celestial navigation and how to plot a course.

From The Wall Street Journal

The great and the small collide when the Tu‘itonga’s two younger children surprisingly appear on Bird Island, led by the middle son, a “wayfinder” who has learned the sacred craft of celestial navigation.

From The Wall Street Journal

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.

From New York Times

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

From Scientific American

Sitting there, appreciating Aiken’s wry assessment of his own uncertain celestial navigation, I wondered what he would make of his hometown’s road map from past to present to future.

From Washington Post