Navigation



In the world maritime navigation is often done by calculating the latitude and longitude with the aid of celestial bodies using a sextant. The latitude is usually found by measuring the angle between one of several navigational stars and the horizon at night. Longitude is more inaccurate and is usually found by either by watching day to day drift of starts or by measuring the angle of the sun at noon. The problem with getting an accurate longitude is that the calculations are based on time and there are few ways to accurately know the time out on the sea. Latitude can also be found with the sun at noon but suffers from the same issues with knowing the time.

Simple chronometers exist but they are usually large and not very accurate on a moving vessel making them not all that useful. More accurate time measuring devices for use on ships might exist in the world but if so they are incredibly rare.

Navigators also variety of other tools likes spyglasses, charts and landmarks.