Navigate the Night

Can you use the stars to find your way and discover which direction is south?

Your Mission Briefing

Long before GPS, maps and phone apps, people looked to the Sun, Moon and stars to help them find their way. This is called celestial navigation – using objects in the sky to work out direction and position.

Here in the Southern Hemisphere, one of the most useful star patterns is the Southern Cross. By following a few simple steps, you can use it to help find south.

Ready to become a night-time navigator? Explore the activity, find the Southern Cross and see if you can work out which way is south!

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