How Explorers Navigate

Navigation is the skill of figuring out where you are and how to get where you want to go. Explorers have used many tools over the years to navigate. Long ago, they used stars and the sun. Today, they use GPS and computers. Good navigation has always been key to every great adventure.

Old Ways to Navigate

Ancient sailors watched the stars to find their direction. They also used the sun's position during the day. The magnetic compass, invented in China, was a huge help. It always points north, so sailors knew which way they were going. Sailors also used a tool called a sextant to measure the angle of stars above the horizon.

Modern Navigation

Today, GPS satellites make navigation much easier. Ships, planes, and hikers all use GPS. Scientists also use radar and sonar to navigate. Spacecraft use signals from Earth and star trackers to find their way. Even with modern tools, many explorers still learn the old methods just in case.

Fun Facts

• The magnetic compass was invented in China more than 1,000 years ago.
• Polynesian sailors could navigate by watching ocean waves and bird flights.
• Astronauts use star trackers on spacecraft to figure out which direction they are facing.

Did You Know?

Before compasses, Vikings may have used a special crystal called a sunstone to find the sun's position even on cloudy days.