celestial navigation
Americannoun
noun
-
Navigation of a ship or aircraft based on the observed positions of celestial bodies.
-
See more at altazimuth coordinate system
Etymology
Origin of celestial navigation
First recorded in 1935–40
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
They were the first invertebrates -- a broad group of animals including spiders, snails and worms -- shown to use celestial navigation for such long trips.
From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026
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 ● Oct. 8, 2025
Some examples of ancient TEK include midwifery, celestial navigation and fish conservation.
From Scientific American ● Aug. 1, 2023
The head looks upward into the sky to symbolize celestial navigation, and the post celebrates past explorers who had ventured to the arrowroot-colored continent.
From New York Times ● Jul. 2, 2021
I have coached you for years in celestial navigation; if you remember my lessons you will have a prosperous voyage.
From Flowers of Freethought (First Series) by G. W. (George William) Foote
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
