What is celestial navigation?

Celestial navigation is fundamentally a technique for determining one’s position on Earth by utilizing observations of celestial bodies, such as stars, planets, the moon, and the sun. This method is grounded in principles of astronomy and physics, where navigators measure angles between celestial bodies and the horizon using tools like sextants. By knowing the positions of these celestial objects in relation to the Earth at a given time, navigators can calculate their geographical location.

This method contrasts sharply with other navigation techniques. For example, communication using satellites pertains more to information transmission rather than positional finding. Ground landmark-based navigation relies on visible geographical features and doesn't make use of celestial phenomena. Additionally, calculating weather patterns is a completely different focus, as it involves atmospheric conditions and does not relate to position determination through celestial reference points. Thus, the choice that accurately defines celestial navigation is the one that highlights its reliance on astronomical observations for positional determination.