How do GPS systems accurately pinpoint your location?

GPS systems use signals from satellites to figure out where you are on Earth.

Imagine you're playing hide and seek, but instead of just guessing, you get clues from friends who can see you from really high up, like the top of a tall building. Each friend shouts out how far away they think you are. By listening to several friends at once, you can find where you’re hiding.

There are lots of satellites circling Earth, each sending out signals that travel through space and reach your phone or car’s GPS system. Your device gets the time it took for each signal to arrive, which helps it know how far away each satellite is.

Your GPS uses the distances from at least four satellites to calculate exactly where you are, like using four different clues in hide and seek to pinpoint your spot! The more signals it gets, the more accurate it becomes. That’s why your phone can tell you not just where you are, but also how fast you're moving or even if you're going the wrong way!