Before the compass, let alone GPS, our main way of finding directions was to use star navigation. Even though technology now makes it easier for us to find directions, learning how to navigate using the stars is still fun. You can find the direction north, south, east, or west by studying a few stars and constellations, or you can just pick a star and follow its movement.
Step
Method 1 of 6: Finding the North Star (Northern Hemisphere)
Step 1. Look for Polaris, the North Star
Polaris is the brightest star in the constellation Ursa Minor, Little bear. This star can be found in the tail of the bear. (The ancient Greeks, and many others, saw bears as animals with long tails.) This star is called Polaris because it appears within the degrees of the Arctic Sky and appears motionless in the night sky.
Nowadays, because the seven stars of Ursa Minor look like small water dippers, most people refer to Ursa Minor as Little Dipper instead of Little Bear
Step 2. Use the star pointer to help you find the North Star
While Polaris can be seen in the northern sky in most locations north of the equator, it can be difficult to find if you don't know exactly what you're looking for. You can use other stars to show the way to Polaris.
- The most commonly used star pointers are Merak and Dubhe, the two stars at the opposite end of the Big Dipper. By following these stars towards the mouth of the Big Dipper, you can find Polaris.
- On nights when the Big Dipper is below the horizon, as if falling too fast, you can draw a line through the stars on the eastern edge of the Great Square from Pegasus, Algenib and Alpheratz (which are part of the constellation Andromeda), and through Caph, the star at the far end. the far right of the W-shaped constellation Cassiopeia, to find Polaris.
Method 2 of 6: Finding Latitude (Northern Hemisphere)
Step 1. Find Polaris
Use one of the star pointer methods to help you.
Step 2. Determine the angle in degrees between the position of Polaris and the northern horizon
The most accurate way to do this is with a quadrant or sextant, which allows you to read the angle of the curved section. The measure of this angle is equal to the latitude north of the equator.
If you don't have a quadrant or sextant, you can estimate the angle by extending your fist to the horizon and extending your fist until it reaches the main star. Extend your fist about 10 degrees from the angle measure
Method 3 of 6: Finding South (Northern Hemisphere)
Step 1. Locate the Orion Constellation
Orion's constellation Hunter looks like a bent hourglass. The stars Betelgeuse and Bellatrix became his shoulders; the stars Saiph and Rigel become knees (or feet). The three stars in the center, Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka, form Orion's belt.
In the Northern Hemisphere, Orion is clearly visible in winter and early spring, but is only visible late at night in autumn or before sunrise in summer
Step 2. Find Orion's sword, if you can
Look for one that is bright enough, one that is dim, and one that is hazy below Alnilam, the center star in Orion's belt. This is Orion's sword pointing towards the south.
The hazy "star" is actually the massive Nebula on Orion, a nursery between newly formed stars
Method 4 of 6: Finding South (Southern Hemisphere)
Step 1. Find Crux, the southern line
Although there is a star near the south celestial pole, Sigma Octantis, it is too dim for you to find south. Instead, look for the bright constellation Crux, the southern line, which is made up of four stars that form an upright and transverse cross.
The southern stripe is a prominent constellation depicted on the Australian and New Zealand flags
Step 2. Draw a line through the stars on the upright cross
This will direct you to the south.
- (Optional) Increase directional accuracy by finding the two "pointers" to the Southern Cross and drawing a line through them. Then, draw a perpendicular line from the center of the line and extend it until it intersects with the extension of the Southern Cross line. The line crossing is the sign of the south.
- Drawing a line through the two stars crosswise will point you to Alpha Centauri, the closest star to Earth after the sun. (This star is also depicted on the Australian flag, but not on the New Zealand flag.)
Method 5 of 6: Finding East or West (Sky Equator)
Step 1. Look for the constellation Orion
As mentioned earlier, the torso of the constellation looks like a bent hourglass.
Step 2. Look for the star on the far right in Orion's belt
This star, Mintaka, rises and sets in the true east or west degree.
Method 6 of 6: Finding Direction by Following the Position of a Star (Everywhere)
Step 1. Plug 2 sticks into the ground
The rods should be about 90 cm apart.
Step 2. Select any star you see in the night sky
You can choose any star for this, although you will probably choose the one that is the brightest.
Step 3. Align the stars with the top ends of the two bars
Step 4. Wait for the star to move out of the bar position
The earth's rotation from west to east causes the stars in the sky, as a whole, to rotate from east to west. The movement of the star from where you originally saw it tells you which direction you are facing.
- If the star is rising, you are facing east.
- If the star is down, you are facing west.
- If the star moves to the left, you are facing north.
- If the star moves to the right, you are facing south.
Tips
- Polaris is one of 58 stars used to navigate the skies by aviators and navigators around the world. Some versions do not include Polaris in the list because its position allows navigators to find their latitude without needing to know the position of other stars.
- The Big Dipper, known in England as "The Plow" or "Charles Wain" (Wagon), is part of the larger constellation Ursa Major, the Great Bear. This can be used to find other stars besides Polaris. Drawing a far line through the star pointers Peacock and Dubhe from Little Dipper will point to the bright star Regulus in the constellation Leo, the Lion. then to the bright star Spica in the constellation Virgo, the Virgin.
