How Satellites Help GPS Find Your Location

How can you navigate to a restaurant in an unknown city? You can use digital maps that rely on the Global Positioning System or GPS.

GPS is a navigation system that uses more than thirty satellites orbiting the Earth.

These satellites continuously broadcast signals, including their position and time, which can be received by GPS receivers. Ground stations are set up worldwide to monitor and control these satellites.

Once you open the digital map app on your phone, the GPS receiver in your phone will look for satellite signals.

Once the receiver has signals from four or more satellites, it calculates the distance between itself and the satellites to determine its location, including latitude, longitude, and altitude.

Now, your phone knows your location. Once you search for the restaurant's name, the app searches its extensive database and provides you with information like its location, user reviews, etc.

After that, click the directions option to see the route, distance, and time to get to that restaurant, using your location as the starting point.