How to Find North Using a Clock and Stars
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ScribdTranslationsHow to Find North Using a Clock and Stars
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ScribdTranslationsWe can use a hands clock and the position of the sun to find north.
easily. For this, we must know the following:
Point the hour hand (the small one) towards the sun. This way you will see that it
"draw" a line (bisector) between the hour hand and 12:00, this line
points south.
If we are located in the southern hemisphere:
Point at 12:00 o'clock towards the sun, in this way a line (bisection) will be 'drawn.'
between 12:00 and the hour hand (the small one), this line marks
to the north.
It is important that the clock shows the correct time.
We can use the Moon for orientation, although with less precision than with the Sun.
the shadows it casts or the stars. The Moon reflects the light of the Sun and varies according to its
\ position. One must take into account the phases and know that the Moon 'lies' when it has
the C shape of "increasing" is actually decreasing and when it has a D shape it is
growing.
The approximate position of the Moon according to the phase and time is as shown in the image.
These observations only take place on the days when phases begin, as in each
One of the seven days it lasts, its passage through the South is delayed daily.
To easily remember this figure, the mnemonic rule SOEOES can be used:
SO: Creciente. Se ve durante la primera parte de la noche (de 18 a 24), recorrido de
To the West.
EO: Full. It is visible during the night (from 18 to 06), traveling from East to West.
Waning. It is seen during the second part of the night (from 24 to 06), path of
This is South.
1.- We stick a pole vertically in a flat area of land so that it casts a shadow.
very visible shadow.
2.- We observe where the shadow falls and mark its tip with a pebble.
(a).
3.- We wait for the shadow to move a few centimeters. If the stick measures one meter,
It will take about 15 minutes. The longer it is, the faster the shadow will move.
4.- We mark the new position of the tip of the shadow using the same procedure
(b).
5.- We draw a line that connects the two points and we obtain the East - West direction,
being (a) the West in the northern hemisphere.
6.- By drawing a second perpendicular line, the approximate direction will be obtained.
North - South.
Method by Orion
One can determine the North-South direction with the help of the constellation Orion, more
specifically, one can find the South as long as it is completely visible
constellation.
To do this, one must connect with an imaginary line the reddish star Betelgeuse (the shoulder.
hunter's right and about 10° north of the belt of Orion) with the bluish star
Rigel (in the left foot of the Hunter and almost 10º south of the same belt). Rigel is
the brightest star of the constellation. Where this imaginary line intersects with the
the terrestrial (or marine) horizon will very approximately be the geographic South
Orion always sets out at dawn, and at that time the Big Dipper is already hidden and is not
visible. However, orientation using the constellation of Orion presents a
inconvenient: it is perfectly visible only in winter, In spring it is found
very low on the horizon. In summer it is not visible and reappears in autumn.