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Synonyms

celestial navigation

American

noun

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

celestial navigation British

noun

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

"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 Scientific

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.

See Examples For:

celestial navigation

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

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 8, 2025

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 ● Jun. 20, 2024

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

From Scientific American ● Aug. 1, 2023

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

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023