Content

• Steps
• Advice

If you're looking for a way in the wilderness without a compass, don't worry! There are many ways you can guess which direction is north during the day and at night. By observing the sun, the shade and the stars, you will find the north and go in the right direction.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Use the pile ball method during the day

1. 

   Find a stick about 60 cm long. If you are out in nature, you might be surrounded by branches. A straight stick at least 60 cm long will cast neat and crisp shadows to help you find the right direction. In general, the longer the rod, the longer its shadow and the easier it will be to see.
   • The diameter of the stick can vary, but around 1.3 cm is usually suitable in almost any situation. If the sky is cloudy, the stick with a larger diameter can make shadows more visible.

   Note: This method requires the rod to win. The twisting stick will distract you because its shadow is not straight.

   
   

2. 

   Plug the stick into a flat, empty ground. Plug the stick straight. If the soil is hard, you can use any knife or tool you have to poke a hole in the soil. Look for the shadow of the entire stake - that is the shadow you will use to find direction.
   • Apply soil or rocks to keep the pile upright.
   • It is important that the shadow be cast on flat ground with no vegetation. If the ground is full of grass or uneven, the shadow of the stake will be distorted. Clear the ground if needed.

3. 

   
   
   Place a stone on the top of the ball. This stone marks the initial position of the shadow. You need to mark the initial position as the sun will move across the sky, and the shadow will also move.
   • As the sun moves from east to west, it causes the shadow to move in the opposite direction. This means that the initial position of the shadow will be the westernmost point.

4. 

   
   
   Wait 20 minutes. This step is to give the sun enough time to travel across the sky. If the shadow has not moved significantly after 20 minutes, wait another 10 minutes.
   • If you don't have a way to schedule the time, just keep an eye on the shadow. When you see it move, you can mark a new location and continue with the progress.

5. 

   Mark the new position of the ball. As the sun moves, its shadow will move east. Place a stone or stick at the tip of the shadow to mark its new position.
   • Be sure to use an object that is not blown away by the wind to mark it. If both shadows are lost you will have to start over.

6. 

   Draw a line connecting the rocks. As the sun moves westward through the sky, the new shadow position will go further east. The link between the two rocks creates the east-west axis, the first step towards finding the north.
   • To connect two stones, you can draw a line on the ground or place a 2-point connection stick.

7. 

   Mark the letter "T" in the original position and the letter "Đ" in the new position. This step forms the compass so you don't forget which direction is where.
   • Remember that the directions shown on the compass are clockwise north, east, south and west. If you forget the order of the directions on the compass, remember the phrase "Capturing the Deer" is reminiscent of the first letters of the north, east, and southwest directions.

8. 

   Place your left foot on the letter "T" and the right foot on the letter "Đ" to find the north. When in this position, you will be facing north and behind you south. This pose forms the compass. The north you are facing is the true north, because you are using the sun to determine instead of the earth's magnetic field.
   • If you want to track these directions, you can mark a point "B" in front of you and a "N" on your back.
   • This method has the same effect in both the southern and northern hemispheres. The only difference is, in the northern hemisphere, the sun will be in the back; and in the southern hemisphere the sun will be in front of you.
   advertisement

Method 2 of 4: Use an analog clock and a sun

1. 

   Remove the watch and hold it in front of the face. Observe the dial and the position of the pointing hour and minute hands.
   • For this method, you need to use a clock indicating the hour with the hour and minute hands. Electronic clock is not working.

2. 

   Point the hour hand towards the sun if you are in the northern hemisphere. In the northern hemisphere, the sun will point south. Turning the clock so that the hour hand faces the sun is the first step in finding the north-south axis.

3. 

   Find the midpoint of the hour hand and the 12 o'clock bar. In the northern hemisphere, this midpoint battles the north-south axis. The actual north direction would be the direction pointing away from the sun.
   • Some analog dials have an adjustable bezel for direction. If you have this type of watch, you can adjust it so that the arrow is in the middle.
   • Note that this method is not very ideal, as time zones around the world are not always consistent. You may not be able to pinpoint the correct north, but it also gives you a rough position.

4. 

   Point the 12-bezel line on the watch towards the sun if you are in the southern hemisphere. The next step is to find the midpoint of the hour hand and the 12 o'clock bar to determine the north-south axis.
   • In the southern hemisphere, the north is actually the direction that points toward the sun.

5. 

   Use the 1-hour mark instead of the 12-hour mark for conventional daylight saving time. Depending on the time of year and the region in the world, conventional daylight saving time may apply in practice. This method is similar as above, but the time will be 1 hour different, so you need to use the 1 hour mark on the watch instead of the 12 o'clock mark.
   • Remember that the conventional daylight saving time is from March to October in some regions.
   advertisement

Method 3 of 4: Find the North Star star in the northern hemisphere

1. 

   Locate the constellation Dai Hung. Also known as the Ursa Major, this constellation is the key to finding the Big Dipper (the North Pole), which will tell you the true north of the hemisphere. This is a large, easy-to-find constellation in the clear sky.
   • The constellation Dai Hung is shaped like a big ladle or ladle, so it is also known in English as Big Dipper, which consists of some of the brightest stars in the sky. Look for the same constellation.
   • Contrary to popular belief, the North Star is not the brightest. Look for these constellations to locate it.

2. 

   Find the outer edge of the Big Hung constellation. The outer edge of the constellation will be the top of the water scoop, made up of two stars. These two stars are known as "stars only" because they refer to the North Star.

3. 

   Draw an imaginary line from the "pointing" stars outward. This line will extend over the top of the spoon. The North Star will be at the end of this line.
   • The Big Dipper forms the hoop end of the constellation Little Dipper and is the brightest star in this constellation. When you believe a Big Dipper has been found, look around to see if it belongs to a small constellation shaped like a scoop. If so, then you have already identified the North Star.

4. 

   Stand towards the North Star star. When you return to the North Star you are heading towards the real north. Now you can use this knowledge to find other directions.
   • Remember that if you turned north, the remaining directions from right to left would be east, south, and west respectively.

5. 

   Estimate the distance if the sky is cloudy. Sometimes the weather is not favorable for you to apply 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 6 times the distance between the two "mere stars". Look at the distance between these two stars, then multiply by 6. This will give you an estimate of the location of the Big Dipper.
   advertisement

Method 4 of 4: Find stars in the southern hemisphere

1. 

   Locate the constellation of the South Cross. If you are in the southern hemisphere, the North Star won't help you find your way. Instead, find the true north using the constellation of the Southern Cross. This constellation is always seen in the southern hemisphere.
   • This constellation consists of four creative stars in the shape of a kite if you follow the outline around them.

2. 

   Find the "stars only". Outside the constellation of the Southern Cross there are 2 brighter stars, the so-called "star only." These two stars are almost parallel to the 2 closest stars in the constellation of the Southern Cross.
   • These two stars are among the brightest in the southern hemisphere sky. If you are having trouble finding the constellation of the Southern Cross, then finding "stars" is a good start.

3. 

   Draw an imaginary line connecting the longest distance of the constellation of the Southern Cross. The South Cross stars, Gacrux and Acrux, are located at the farthest point in the constellation. Starting at the top of the cross, imagine a line between these two stars, then continue to stretch out at the same angle.
   • You can hold a straight stick in front of you to easily visualize the line.
   • Depending on the time of year this line may touch the ground, as this constellation rotates with the earth.

4. 

   Draw an imaginary line starting at the midpoint of the line connecting the two "pointed stars". Similar to drawing an imaginary line from the constellation of the Southern Cross, you will now find the midpoint connecting the two "pointed stars" and extending the line outward. This line will cut across the line you drew from the constellation of the Southern Cross. The intersection of these two lines will be the actual south direction.
   • Use natural landmarks as a reference point. For example, a tall tree in the distance can help you mark the intersection of two lines and tell you the true south direction.

5. 

   Turn back 180 degrees so that your back is facing south to find the true north. Once you have found the true south, simply turn back to find the true north. Remember to rotate exactly 180 degrees, otherwise you will be deflected and not going north. advertisement

Advice

• Don't forget that when you get lost in the wilderness, the best advice for survival is to stay still. This will help rescue workers locate you and keep you safe. If you move, they will have to track you and the rescue will be delayed.