Celestial means relating to the sky or outer space, especially the stars, planets, and other objects you see when you look up on a clear night. When astronomers study celestial bodies like Mars or the Moon, they're observing objects in space. A celestial map shows where to find different stars and constellations.

The word carries a sense of beauty and wonder. When someone describes a sunset as having celestial colors, they mean it looks almost too beautiful to be real, like something from the heavens themselves. A piece of music might be called celestial if it sounds pure and otherworldly, like an angel's song.

Scientists use celestial navigation to describe how sailors once found their way across oceans by observing the positions of stars. Ancient mariners learned to read the night sky like a map, using celestial objects to guide their ships home. Even today, pilots and astronauts study celestial navigation as a backup system if their electronic equipment fails.

When you hear celestial, think of anything connected to that vast, mysterious realm above Earth, from the practical (astronomy, navigation) to the poetic (describing something as transcendently beautiful).