Laser trackers (used for metrology) can also use spiral search to find retroreflectors. Although I believe newer models generate a flash of infrared and find them via bright spots in the resulting image from a camera. I imagine modern celestial navigation systems evolved similarly (minus the infrared flash, not very useful for stars).
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This is also used in laser communication systems to find your peer.
Laser trackers (used for metrology) can also use spiral search to find retroreflectors. Although I believe newer models generate a flash of infrared and find them via bright spots in the resulting image from a camera. I imagine modern celestial navigation systems evolved similarly (minus the infrared flash, not very useful for stars).