Patent ID: 7349803

Claim:
An automatic celestial navigation system for navigating both night and day by observation of K-band or H-band infrared light from multiple stars, said system comprising: A) at least two telescopes each of said at least two telescopes rigidly mounted with respect to each other and rigidly mounted on a movable platform with each telescope being directed at a substantially different portion of sky with each of said telescopes defining a field of view and comprising: 1) telescope optics for focusing H-band or K-band light from stars in said field of view onto a focal plane, 2) a sensor located at said focal plane for detecting H-band or K-band light, B) an accurate timing device, C) an inclination sensor, D) a computer processor having access to infrared star charts, programmed to compare image data from said infrared sensors, time information from said timing device, incline information from said inclination sensor and said star charts to determine positions of said platform and E) a display device for displaying positions of said platform.