2007-03-10 11:45:41 · 19 answers · asked by colin050659 6 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
You sure can (when its not cloudy)
2007-03-10 11:50:04 · answer #1 · answered by Stu pid 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, and you only need a small part of the sky to be clear. Forget about the Pole Star, and learn to recognise the 12 constellations of the Zodiac.
These 12 constellations lie along a great circle in the sky, called the ecliptic. This cuts the horizon at East and West, so wherever you are, there are always six of them in the night sky. If you can see enough of even one of them to decide how the circle lies, you can navigate.
2007-03-11 06:55:10 · answer #2 · answered by bh8153 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. If you know the exact time and the position of certain stars you can determine both your longitude and your latitude. Longitude is the most difficult, and until chronometers were developed that could keep time even on a rolling ship longitude determination was an art, not a science, and was really hit-or-miss.
2007-03-10 13:33:31 · answer #3 · answered by David A 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Nah!! You use the rudder the steer the ship and the stars to guide you as to which way.!
2007-03-10 11:56:09 · answer #4 · answered by scrumpysteve 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You use a rudder to steer a ship.
You can use Astro/Cellestial Navigation to navigate yourself between places.
2007-03-11 06:00:11 · answer #5 · answered by Ian P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Northern star called Polaris is the `Fixed` point, that`s as much as I know. Orienteering, I just focus on one point, the map + leg it..
2007-03-11 03:51:02 · answer #6 · answered by CLIVE C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Sailors were using it for centuries, before we had GPS and the like
2007-03-10 22:49:28 · answer #7 · answered by Madfan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no, you need fireproof gloves to hold the star with while it steered the shiplol
2007-03-10 11:57:19 · answer #8 · answered by trucker 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
yes it is how they were navigated befor a cumpas
and it is also where the 360 degres came from
2007-03-10 12:13:21 · answer #9 · answered by Michael D 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Use the rudder or the ships wheel.
2007-03-10 11:52:46 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Yep. provided it's a clear sky & you know what you're doing...
2007-03-10 17:29:18 · answer #11 · answered by lycan_888 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋