Sight reduction

Sight reduction is like playing a game of hide-and-seek. You start by knowing where you are and what day it is. Then you need to find some markers in the sky called stars that you can see from where you are. Just like finding your friend when they are hiding, you need to use some clues to help you locate the stars.

Once you find the stars, you measure how high they are in the sky and which direction they are in. This helps you figure out where you are on Earth by drawing a line from where you are to the star you measured.

Sight reduction is like taking all these measurements and using them to solve a puzzle. The puzzle helps you figure out where you are on a map, even if you can't see any landmarks or signs around you. It's like having a secret code that tells you where you are, and you're the only one who can solve it!