How Did the Moon Affect Ancient Navigation?

Imagine being on a big boat in the middle of the ocean, with no land in sight. The moon was like a bright light that helped people know where they were and when to sail. Ancient sailors watched how the moon moved across the sky, it showed them directions just like a big glowing compass.

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Examples

A child on a boat points to the full moon and says it's like a glowing lantern in the sky.
An ancient sailor watches the moon rise behind a mountain and knows he's heading east.
The moon shines bright enough for sailors to see where they are even when the sun goes down.

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Categories: History · Navigation,Ancient History,Moon