Astronomers also use a piece of equipment called the star tracker. This is a device that automatically measures the angular separation of stellar observations with respect to a reference platform. It is also referred to as an as-trotracker. By utilizing the star tracker in conjunction with a precise time reference (chronometer) and a dead-reckoning device consisting of gyroscopes and accelerometers (inertial navigator), a digital computer can correct many of the inertial navigator errors so that precise, autonomous (free from any radio position aids), terrestrial navigation can be achieved. Star trackers are also used extensively for both military and non-military applications on space probes, space-based interceptors, and satellites. In these applications the precise attitude capabilities of these devises provide the precision reference for pointing of the vehicle and Earth or planet sensors. On space missions, star trackers are the only sensors presently available that can provide arc-second attitude accuracy. .
Although astronomy and astrophysics are very close, Astronomy, in itself, has a many divisions. As stated in the McGraw-Hill Multimedia Encyclopedia of Science and Technology, these divisions include stellar astronomy, the study of the stars, especially through observations of the intensity of the light and it's variation and stellar spectra, interstellar astronomy, the study of interstellar space, especially the hydrogen gas and the molecules observed there, galaxies, which can now be studied principally by spectroscopy, with new techniques such as those described above, cosmology, mapping of the distance to thousands of galaxies has enabled three-dimensional maps of regions of space to be made the structure of space must be interpreted in models of galaxy formation. The other divisions are solar physics which the study of the sun, traditionally known as solar physics rather than solar astronomy, treats it not only as an individual object close enough to study in detail but also as a prototype of more distant stars.