2006-11-29 03:51:13 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Homework Help
These days, ships navigate using a GPS unit. They triangulate a position between a ship and at least 2 satellites. GPS readings are accurate to within yards of a location. In the past, a Sextant and charts were used. You sighted thru the Sextant at either the sun during day time or at particular stars during the night and compared what you saw to indicators on your charts and achieved a relative location ... not an exact science. You can find detailed descriptions of navigation aids on line or in the library.
2006-11-29 04:09:08 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You make sure that you have the right hardware to avail yourself of GPS assistance (Global Positioning Satellite).
If, on the other hand, your homework assumes a less sophisticated level of technology, then you might care to use 'Google' or similar to look up what a 'sextant' is!
2006-11-29 03:54:35 · answer #2 · answered by PhD 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Before GPS they used handheld intruments like a compass and sextant and navigated using the stars.
When Captain Blythe (I think) was cast from the Bounty he navigated his way to a friendly port using just his knowledge of the night sky.
2006-11-29 04:25:45 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
in the old days they used the stars and the sun and a sextant now they have gps on most ships.
2006-11-29 04:01:16 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ask a ship going by
2006-11-29 03:58:46 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
With a compass xx
2006-11-29 03:52:37 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
before GPS, they used a sextant, compass, & clock
2006-11-29 03:59:49 · answer #7 · answered by Magick Kitty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
radar
2006-11-29 03:54:31 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋