The Digital Press

NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft, traveling beyond Pluto, has been located in the galaxy using a novel interstellar navigation method based on the parallax effect of stars, marking a first in space navigation.

Why it matters: This technique enables spacecraft to autonomously determine their position far from Earth without relying on radio signals.

The big picture: Traditional Deep Space Network navigation is more precise now but faces signal delay limits for missions beyond the solar system.

The stakes: Current parallax accuracy spans a 60 million km radius, far less precise than existing methods, but could improve with better equipment.

Commenters say: Many find the technique cool but note it’s less precise than pulsar navigation, appreciating the innovative use of New Horizons’ aging tech.