Buzz
If you're lost in the wilderness without a compass, there's no need to panic! There are various ways to figure out the direction of north during both the day and night. By observing the sun, shadows, and stars, you can easily find the north and head in the right direction.
Steps
Using the Stick Shadow Method During the Day
Find a stick that is about 60 cm long. If you're out in nature, you might find plenty of branches around you. A straight stick of at least 60 cm in length will cast a clear and distinct shadow to help you determine the direction. In general, the longer the stick, the longer its shadow will be, making it easier to spot.
- The diameter of the stick can vary, but roughly 1.3 cm works well in most situations. If the sky is cloudy, a stick with a larger diameter may cast a more visible shadow.
Note: This method requires the rod to be straight. A crooked rod will mislead you because its shadow will not be aligned properly.
Place the rod on a flat, clear surface. Make sure the rod is perfectly straight. If the ground is hard, you can use a knife or any tool to create a hole. Observe the shadow cast by the rod – this shadow will be used to determine the direction.
- Use soil or stones to keep the rod upright.
- It's crucial that the shadow falls on a flat, clear surface without grass. If the ground is uneven or covered with grass, the shadow will be distorted. Clear the area if necessary.
Place a stone at the tip of the rod's shadow. This stone marks the initial position of the shadow. You need to mark this point because the sun will move across the sky, and the shadow will shift as well.
- Since the sun moves from east to west, the shadow will shift in the opposite direction, meaning the initial position of the shadow marks the farthest west point.
Wait for 20 minutes. This step gives the sun enough time to move across the sky. If you don’t notice significant movement of the shadow after 20 minutes, wait for another 10 minutes.
- If you can't track time, just keep an eye on the shadow. Once you see it move, you can mark the new position and continue.
Mark the new position of the shadow. As the sun moves, its shadow will shift eastward. Place a stone or a stick at the end of the shadow to mark its new position.
- Be sure to use something that won't be blown away by the wind for marking. If both positions of the shadow are lost, you'll have to start over.
Draw a straight line connecting the two stones. As the sun moves westward across the sky, the shadow of the rod will extend further eastward. The line between the two stones forms the east-west axis, the first step in determining the north direction.
- To connect the two stones, you can either draw a straight line on the ground or place a stick between the two points.
Mark the letter “T” at the starting point and “D” at the new position. This step creates a makeshift compass to help you remember the directions.
- Remember that the compass directions are labeled as north, east, south, and west in a clockwise order. If you forget the order, recall the phrase “Bắt Được Nai Tơ” as a reminder of the first letters of the directions north, east, south, and west.
Place your left foot on “T” and your right foot on “D” to find north. In this position, the direction you face will be north, and your back will be to the south. This stance acts as a compass. The north you face is the true north, as you are using the sun to determine direction rather than the Earth's magnetic field.
- If you wish to track these directions, you can mark “B” for the front and “N” for the back.
- This method works the same in both the northern and southern hemispheres. The only difference is that in the northern hemisphere, the sun will be behind you, whereas in the southern hemisphere, the sun will be in front of you.
Using a clock and the sun
Remove the watch and hold it in front of you. Observe the face of the watch and the positions of the hour hand and minute hand.
- For this method, you need to use a watch with hour and minute hands. Digital watches won't work for this technique.
Point the hour hand towards the sun if you are in the northern hemisphere. In the northern hemisphere, the sun will be to the south. Turning the watch so that the hour hand points towards the sun is the first step in finding the north-south axis.
Find the midpoint between the hour hand and the 12 o'clock mark. In the northern hemisphere, this midpoint marks the north-south axis. The true north will be the direction pointing away from the sun.
- Some watches have adjustable bezels for direction finding. If you have such a watch, you can adjust it so the arrow points to this midpoint.
- Note that this method is not perfect, as time zones around the world are not always consistent. You might not be able to pinpoint true north, but it will give you a rough idea of direction.
Point the 12 o'clock mark on the watch towards the sun if you are in the southern hemisphere. The next step is to find the midpoint between the hour hand and the 12 o'clock mark to determine the north-south axis.
- In the southern hemisphere, true north will point towards the sun.
Use the 1 o'clock mark instead of the 12 o'clock mark during daylight saving time. Depending on the time of year and your location, daylight saving time may be in effect. This method is similar to the previous one, but the time will differ by one hour, so you need to use the 1 o'clock mark on the watch instead of the 12 o'clock mark.
- Remember, daylight saving time is observed in some regions from March to October.
Locate the North Star in the northern hemisphere
Identify the position of the Big Dipper constellation. Also known as Ursa Major, this constellation is key to locating the North Star (Polaris), the star that indicates true north in the northern hemisphere. It is a large, easily identifiable constellation in the night sky.
- The Big Dipper resembles a ladle or a large water scoop, which is why it is also called the Big Dipper in English. It consists of some of the brightest stars in the sky. Look for a constellation that has a similar shape.
- Contrary to popular belief, the North Star is not the brightest star. Use these constellations to pinpoint its location.
Find the outer edge of the Big Dipper. The outer edge of the constellation forms the 'bowl' of the ladle, which is made up of two stars. These stars are known as the "pointer stars" because they point directly to the North Star.
Draw an imaginary line from the pointer stars outward. This line will extend from the bowl of the ladle. The North Star will lie at the end of this line.
- The North Star marks the end of the handle of the Big Dipper and is the brightest star in the Little Dipper constellation. Once you believe you have found the North Star, check to see if it belongs to a smaller constellation shaped like a ladle. If it does, you’ve successfully identified the North Star.
Face towards the North Star. By facing the North Star, you are directly facing true north. You can now use this knowledge to determine the other directions.
- Remember, when facing north, the directions from right to left will be east, south, and west.
Estimate the distance if the sky is cloudy. Sometimes weather conditions may not be ideal for using this method, but you can still find the Big Dipper and estimate the distance to the North Star.
- The distance to the North Star is approximately six times the distance between the two pointer stars. Look at the space between these two stars, then multiply it by six. This method will help you estimate the North Star's position.
Find the stars in the Southern Hemisphere
Locate the Southern Cross constellation. If you're in the Southern Hemisphere, the North Star won't help you find the direction. Instead, you can determine true north using the Southern Cross constellation. This constellation is always visible in the southern hemisphere.
- The constellation consists of four bright stars that form the shape of a kite when you trace a line around them.
Look for the "pointer stars". Outside of the Southern Cross constellation, there are two brighter stars known as the "pointer stars." These two stars are almost parallel to the closest pair of stars in the Southern Cross constellation.
- These two pointer stars are among the brightest in the Southern Hemisphere's night sky. If you're having trouble finding the Southern Cross, locating the pointer stars is a great first step.
Draw an imaginary line connecting the farthest stars of the Southern Cross constellation. The stars Gacrux and Acrux from the Southern Cross constellation are located at the farthest points of the constellation. Starting from the top of the cross, imagine a line between these two stars and extend it outward along the same angle.
- You can hold a straight stick in front of you to better visualize the line.
- Depending on the time of year, this line may intersect the ground, as the constellation rotates with the Earth.
Draw an imaginary line starting from the midpoint between the two pointer stars. Similar to the line from the Southern Cross, now find the midpoint between the two pointer stars and extend it outward. This line will intersect with the line you drew from the Southern Cross. The intersection point of the two lines will point to true south.
- Use natural landmarks for reference. For example, a tall tree in the distance can help mark the intersection of the two lines and indicate true south.
Turn around 180 degrees so your back faces south to find true north. Once you've located true south, simply turn around to face true north. Be sure to turn exactly 180 degrees; otherwise, you'll end up off course and not facing the right direction.
Advice
- Remember, when lost in the wild, the best survival advice is to stay put. This helps rescue teams pinpoint your location and ensures your safety. If you move, they will have to follow your trail, which could delay the rescue efforts.
