A system for registering locations within a coordinate system comprising a pointer device and an optical navigation system , the pointer device comprising: a sleeve portion including a distal end, a proximal end, and a bore along a longitudinal axis between the distal end and the proximal end, the sleeve portion including a sleeve tracking marker affixed adjacent to the proximal end; and a tracked probe including a proximal end configured to support an array of tracking markers (110A-110C), a distal end including a probe tip , and an intermediate section adapted to slidably engage the sleeve portion when disposed within the bore, and the optical navigation system including: two or more cameras ; an infrared light source ; and a processor , wherein movement of the probe tip relative to the sleeve portion between at least a first position and a second position can be monitored by tracking the sleeve tracking marker relative to at least one tracking marker of the array of tracking markers (110A-110C) by the processor receiving information from the two or more cameras and determining a distance from the sleeve tracking marker to at least one tracking marker of the array of tracking markers (110A-110C); and wherein movement of the probe tip into the second position indicates a location to be registered at the probe tip through transgressing a threshold distance between the sleeve tracking marker and the at least one tracking marker of the array of tracking markers (110A-110C) as determined by the processor ; and the processor registering in response to determining that the threshold has been transgressed, one or more locations of the probe tip of the pointer device . a sleeve portion including a distal end, a proximal end, and a bore along a longitudinal axis between the distal end and the proximal end, the sleeve portion including a sleeve tracking marker affixed adjacent to the proximal end; and a tracked probe including a proximal end configured to support an array of tracking markers (110A-110C), a distal end including a probe tip , and an intermediate section adapted to slidably engage the sleeve portion when disposed within the bore, and the optical navigation system including: two or more cameras ; an infrared light source ; and a processor , wherein movement of the probe tip relative to the sleeve portion between at least a first position and a second position can be monitored by tracking the sleeve tracking marker relative to at least one tracking marker of the array of tracking markers (110A-110C) by the processor receiving information from the two or more cameras and determining a distance from the sleeve tracking marker to at least one tracking marker of the array of tracking markers (110A-110C); and wherein movement of the probe tip into the second position indicates a location to be registered at the probe tip through transgressing a threshold distance between the sleeve tracking marker and the at least one tracking marker of the array of tracking markers (110A-110C) as determined by the processor ; and the processor registering in response to determining that the threshold has been transgressed, one or more locations of the probe tip of the pointer device . <EOS>