[LonePalm]

Accurate celestial navigation was not really possible prior to the mid-1700s. Modern celestial navigation underway only became possible with John Harrison's development of the first true ship's clock, a pocket watch, in 1761. This was the first clock not affected by the motion of the ship.

Knowing the time, at Greenwich, is essential to knowing the Ground Position of a sighted star.

The Polynesians probably used celestial approximations in coordination with other navigation aids such as currents, trade winds, clouds, fish, etc. They did not have the means to manufacture a modern sextant.

The Polynesians tended to explore into the wind. That way if stores started to run low they could turn and run down wind to get home.

WWG1WGA

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[linMcHlp]

Keep the Faith

[TrueFact]

Just give me a VOR.

[little jeremiah]

Thank you - I do remember that now, about using winds, currents, etc. Of course no equipment or devices other than their senses, and viewing the skies as far as celestian navigation.

[pbear8]

John Harrison's development of the first true ship's clock

"Longitude" was a good movie.

[TXnMA]

A couple of decades ago, Nat Geo had an article on Polynesian island-to-island navigation. Elderly polynesian mariners showed how they carefully observed wave directions (vs wind direction). They had somehow figured out how to "read" the wave diffraction patterns...

caused by waves passing distant islands. Then, they "followed the pattern" to the distant island.

Humans may live in primitive conditions -- yet, still exhibit humankind's exceptional intelligence!

TXnMA