celestial navigation
Americannoun
noun
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Navigation of a ship or aircraft based on the observed positions of celestial bodies.
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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.
She also knows celestial navigation and how to plot a course.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 8, 2025
Other, broader impacts could affect life worldwide: the presence of satellites contributes to a background glow in the sky that can disorient animals that rely on celestial navigation.
From Scientific American ● Jun. 2, 2022
To top it off, the crew managed this feat without the aid of maps or radio contact, using only celestial navigation and an atlas obtained from a library in New Zealand.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 7, 2021
After serving in the Navy, he taught celestial navigation at the United States Naval Academy.
From New York Times ● Sep. 29, 2017
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
Definitions 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.
