noun
celestial navigation; astronavigation
Technical term for determining a ship's or aircraft's position by observing celestial bodies. Synonymous with 天文航法.
See also: 天文航法
昔の船乗りは天測航法で位置を知った。
Sailors in the past determined their position by celestial navigation.
Synonym; 天測航法 is slightly more formal and emphasizes measurement, while 天文航法 is more common in general contexts.
Compound of 天測 (celestial measurement) + 航法 (navigation method). The exact historical derivation is uncertain; it is a modern technical term.