by Veer Bedi, Eighth Grade, Princeton Middle School

The night sky is full of wonders. You can see stars, planets, constellations, star clusters, and even the occasional shooting star. Go out on a clear, moonless night in a place with low light, and the beauty of the night sky will truly unfold before you.

I often go to Princeton Battlefield State Park for stargazing. Being in a place where a major battle was fought more than two centuries ago makes me wonder: in the past, did stargazing—and knowledge of the night sky—help armies win battles?

Let’s look at some historical examples.

On the night of January 2, 1777, General George Washington marched approximately 4,500 soldiers from Trenton toward Princeton in a bold move to outmaneuver British General Charles Cornwallis. The Battle of Princeton took place on January 3, 1777, where Washington’s forces defeated British troops under General Charles Mawhood. This victory proved pivotal in boosting American morale during the Revolutionary War. The battle occurred right here at what is now Princeton Battlefield State Park. Could Washington and his soldiers have used the stars to help guide their nighttime march and arrive at Princeton in time?

There are other examples of celestial navigation in military history. During World War II, U.S. Army Air Forces bombers used bubble sextants to observe celestial objects and determine their position during long-range missions. Around the same time, the British Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) conducted deep desert patrols behind Axis lines in North Africa. Operating in the vast Sahara—with no roads, landmarks, or radio beacons—they relied on Polaris, star altitude measurements, and sextants to determine their location and direction, according to the National Army Museum.

Even the Roman armies are believed to have used the stars at night to help maintain direction during long marches.

Returning to Princeton and my own stargazing experiences, the constellation Perseus is visible these days—or rather, at night—weather gods permitting. Perseus, the mythological Greek hero and son of Zeus, was also a great warrior in legend. Perhaps, in the stories told about him, he too looked up at the stars for guidance on his epic quests!