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Astro Navigation

With the detailed maps of the heavens and the aid of an instrument, probably not unlike a cross staff, Zheng He was able determine his latitude by measuring the altitude of Polaris (the Pole Star) to the north, and the teng lung ku star (Southern Cross) to the south. The navigators would calculate their position along a line of latitude and then sail along this line until they reached their destination.
The Chinese made stellar diagrams that related to each part of the voyages. These instructive diagrams are the sailors charts of the guiding stars which were corrected on each voyage after 1403.
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Source(s):
http://www.dragonvoyage.com/kids-zone/navigation.shtml

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