In an emergency, your life can be saved if you know how to determine the cardinal directions, especially in the wild. Otherwise, this directional technique can help you when you get lost on the road, or when you're passing through unfamiliar areas. Long ago, travelers used the sun to determine direction, and with a little knowledge, you can do that too.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Using the Sun
Step 1. Understand the motion of the sun in the sky
Due to the position of the earth and its motion in space, the sun usually appears to move in the sky from east to west. This method is not accurate in determining the direction. Depending on the time of year, the path of the sun's movement changes between the northeast to northwest, east to west, and southeast to southwest horizons of the sky.
Specific exceptions to the above rules can be found at the south and north poles. The extreme position of each planet's poles creates long seasons of light and dark, and in some places the sun may not appear for up to 6 months
Step 2. Know the current season
Our planet not only moves in space and rotates on its axis from west to east, but is tilted slightly towards and away from the sun. This tilt affects the sun's usual position in the sky. Therefore, you can determine the direction based on the movement of the sun in the sky more accurately if you know the current season.
- In summer, the sun rises on the northeast horizon. As the day progresses, the sun moves through the northeast sky towards the northwest half and eventually sets on the northwest horizon.
- In spring and fall, the sun moves on a straighter route in the sky. That is, the sun rises in the east and moves straight in the sky until it sets in the west.
- In winter, the sun will rise in the southeast. Throughout the day, the sun moves through the southwest sky until it sinks on the southwest horizon.
- Note: in the southern hemisphere (southern parts of Africa, South America, Australia), the shadow movement will be reversed. That is, the sun will rise in the southeast during the summer, and the northeast during the winter, while in spring and fall it will be the same as in the northern hemisphere (the sun rises in the east and sets in the west).
Step 3. Find the east direction using the sun
Now that you know the path of the sun in the sky, you should be able to determine the approximate direction of east. For example, in spring, east is the direction the sun rises. Face this direction.
- To be able to find the east more accurately in summer and winter, you'll need to adjust the direction a bit. In summer, shift your face slightly to the right, and slightly to the left in winter.
- The closer you are to mid-season, the more orientated the sun will be to the north in the summer, and to the south during the winter. This means that in the middle of summer and winter, you will need to adjust your facing direction even more.
Step 4. Find west
The directions north, south, east and west are divided into four equal quadrants on the compass. That is, east is opposite to west, and north is opposite to south. If you are facing east, it means that behind you is west.
You can find this direction easily using a mind picture or marker. However, if you're having trouble visualizing this direction, it's a good idea to draw a line on the ground directly in front of you. The far end points east, and the near end points west
Step 5. Find north and south
By now you should still be facing east. Thus, if you turn 90 degrees to the right, you will be facing south. On the other hand, if you turn 90 degrees to the left from the east, you will be facing north. From this new position, east is the direction to your right, west is the direction to your left, north is straight ahead, and south is directly behind you.
- Again, this direction may be easier to remember if you use markers or mind images. However, if you're still having trouble, draw a straight vertical line on the ground directly in front of you. The far end of the line points north, and the near end points south.
- If you draw a line to represent the east-west and north-south directions, they will both create a plus sign or a plus (+) sign. Each end of the plus sign represents each cardinal direction (north, east, south, and west).
Step 6. Go to your destination
By now, you should be able to predict the direction around you. Therefore, you can use a large marker in the distance to reach your destination. Some of the large markers that can be used include tall buildings, mountains, rivers, large bodies of water, and so on.
Method 2 of 2: Using Shadows Created by the Sun
Step 1. Make a sun stick
You can use sticks, poles, or branches as sun sticks. Look for one that is as straight as possible and 1 meter long. After that, take it to a flat place that receives a lot of sunlight. Stick your stick into the ground so that it forms a 90 degree angle (L shape) with the ground.
If you can't find a measuring tool, you'll have a hard time finding a stick that's the right length. Usually, if you are an adult of normal height, the distance from the base of the extended arm to the tip of the finger is usually 1.5 meters. Use this approximation to shorten your sun wand to close to 1 meter
Step 2. Mark the shadow of the stick from the rays of the dawn sun
To get an accurate shadow direction, wait for the sun to set. When the sun rises at dawn, mark the shadow of the stick in the light of dawn. This shadow points to the west, regardless of your position on the earth's surface.
Step 3. Draw an east-west line
Wait for 15 minutes and mark the position of your sun stick shadow. The shadow should have moved a few centimeters. Mark this new shadow on the ground and connect the two marks with a straight line.
The first mark on this line will point approximately to the west, while the second mark will point approximately to the east
Step 4. Face yourself to the north
Stand to the line you have drawn, with the first mark on the left and the second mark on the right. Now, you form a 90 degree angle (L shape) with the line connecting these two points. In this position, you are facing more or less north.
Following the line drawn to the left, you are heading west. Following the line drawn to the right, you are heading east. The direction behind you is the opposite of north, i.e. south
Warning
- The technique of determining direction using the sun and shadows only produces "estimates". If you're careless, searching east and west using sun and shadow can be off by up to 30 degrees.
- This technique is difficult or even impossible in cloudy weather.
