Navegação celestial em tempos de tecnologia GPS

Abstract

Celestial navigation, which consists of using celestial stars to guide oneself, was the original method of navigation developed by mankind. With the advent of GPS technology and other advanced navigation systems, many have come to regard celestial navigation as antiquated and obsolete, no longer useful in modern aviation. Based on these assumptions, this study seeks to demonstrate, through the use of a qualitative, experimental, applied and descriptive methodology, the relevance of this navigation today, demonstrating that it provides pilots with an expanded understanding and situational awareness, since it involves knowledge of the stars and constellations as visual flight references and position cross-checking procedures. Also, on polar routes where GPS coverage is limited, celestial navigation can be especially useful, allowing pilots to pinpoint their position accurately. With the advent of the Cold War, technological advances were needed that would allow an automatic process of this type of navigation in order to automatically correct the inaccuracies caused by aircraft that traveled long distances at high speed. These automated celestial navigation processes are present in military equipment and in the use of star trackers on orbital satellites and are driving the development of more reliable and accurate navigation systems in the field of aeronautical study. Thus, astronomical navigation has a promising future, with the continuous advancement of technology.