Captain Amaranth
I'm not sure it would have been particularly suited for navigation - although being able to find planets amidst the stars and comparing your position would tell you which way you'd be going, the stars alone are quite well suited to the task.
Not to mention it'd probably corrode pretty quickly, even if one were careful.

I quite fancy the idea it was just one person's attempt at showing of, etc.
Well there is certainly something sexy about an array turning cogs.