Patent ID: 7349804

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 one telescope on a movable platform for viewing at least two substantially different portions of sky with each of said at least one telescope 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 accurate inclination sensor, and D) a computer processor having access to infrared star chart information, programmed to compare image data from said infrared sensors, time information from said timing device, inclination information from said inclination sensor and said star chart information to determine positions of said platform.