Celestial Navigation – Canadian Flight Trainers

Celestial navigation is the practice of determining a vessel’s position by observing the angles of celestial bodies — the sun, moon, planets, and stars — above the horizon, using a sextant and almanac tables. In aviation, celestial navigation was used on long-range oceanic and polar flights before satellite navigation (GPS/GNSS) made it largely obsolete.

Aviation Context

Celestial navigation was essential for trans-oceanic and transpolar aviation throughout the mid-20th century. Long-range military and commercial aircraft carried a celestial navigation station with an astrodome in the upper fuselage. The navigator would take star shots, plot lines of position (LOP), and maintain the dead reckoning position.

Current Relevance

While replaced by GPS for practical operations, celestial navigation remains part of advanced navigation theory and some military curricula. For Canadian written exams, basic knowledge of celestial concepts (sun azimuth, true bearing determination) may appear in the navigation section.

Related Terms

See also: Dead Reckoning, Grid Navigation.