Ancient mariners and explorers used the position of the sun and stars to determine their location and chart their way home after a voyage on the ocean or through the forests. Knowing where you are has never been easy. Many times in the past, getting lost on our travels was a benefit in disguise. We experienced new areas and met interesting people that we would never have found if we hadn't taken the wrong road.

Most of us are not good at remembering and then following directions given by someone else. Or we find out that 'you can't get there from here' - you have to go somewhere else first. Today we can use information from satellites to find our way to the campground or a restaurant in the next town instead of having to stop and ask someone for directions.

The American government has placed 24 satellites in orbit 12,000 miles above the earth that transmit signals to Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers for use by the military. These satellites have atomic clocks and transmit the precise time and their position in space. Ordinary people who travel in RVs and boats, or hikers, cyclists, fishermen and snowmobilers can use this same information with small portable receivers to find their location and the direction they are travelling.
...... (See full story in Vol.30 No.7) (Top)