Date: Tue, 03 Apr 2012 22:46:52 -0400
From: mark <whitroth at 5-cent.us>
To: "gt-pfrc at ml.gt.org" <gt-pfrc at ml.gt.org>,
 WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>,
 WSFA Official List <wsfa-forum at yahoogroups.com>, bsfsgeneral at bsfs.org
Subject: [WSFA] Dead stars 'to guide spacecraft'
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>

Excerpt:
German scientists are developing a technique that allows for very precise
positioning anywhere in space by picking up X-ray signals from pulsars.

These dense, burnt-out stars rotate rapidly, sweeping their emission
across the cosmos at rates that are so stable they rival atomic clock
performance.

This timing property is perfect for interstellar navigation, says the team.

If a spacecraft carried the means to detect the pulses, it could compare
their arrival times with those predicted at a reference location. This
would enable the craft to determine its position to an accuracy of just
five kilometres anywhere in the galaxy.
--- end excerpt ---

Five klicks?!

<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17557581>

        mark