Gravestones are also usually aligned west-east. According to Reynolds , you should look for Orion:. Orion is a constellation that rises in the east and sets in the west. Buy a compass The A. By Wendy Boswell. Your shadow will face behind you when using this method. With your right arm facing East, you will then be facing North and be able to quickly know what direction North, South, East, and West is. North-facing aspect North or north-east facing properties are considered the most desirable because they get the most direct sunlight through the day, especially in winter when the sun is at its lowest.
In an urban area where sunlight is at a premium, this can make a world of difference. To understand where north, south, east, and west are, first point your left arm towards the sun in the morning. Image: Caitlin Dempsey. Now, take your right hand and point it towards the west.
You are now facing south and your back is towards the north. The Earth rotates around a north-south axis as you see on the right. Most maps show North at the top and South at the bottom. To the left is West and to the right is East.
If you are in the Southern Hemisphere then it will be the other way round. The recommended sleeping direction per vastu shastra is that you lie down with your head pointed southward. A north-to-south body position is considered the worst direction.
Up is then defined as the opposite direction of down. Look for the sun at noon. At noon, the sun can point you in the general direction of north and south, and consequently east and west, but it will not tell you due north or due south.
In the Northern Hemisphere, walking directly toward the sun at noon will lead you south, while walking directly away from the sun will lead you north. In the Southern Hemisphere, the opposite is true: toward the sun will lead you north, and away from the sun will lead you south.
Use sunrise and sunset for approximate directions. The sun rises in the general direction of east and sets in the general direction of west every day, so you can use the location of sunrise or sunset to get an approximate idea of direction.
Face the sunrise and you are facing east; north will be on your left and south will be on your right. Face the sunset and you are facing west; north will be on your right and south will be on your left. The location of sunrise and sunset only provide an approximate idea of direction days of the year, because the sun rises due east and sets due west only on the vernal and autumnal equinoxes the first day of spring and fall. Look at how vegetation is growing.
Living north of the equator, the sun is usually in the southern part of the sky, and the opposite is true south of the equator. This means that leaves and foliage will tend to be thicker and denser on the southern side of a tree or bush.
Many guidebooks will note that moss only grows on the north side of a tree in the Northern Hemisphere, but this is not true. However, while moss can grow on all sides of a tree, it is true that it will often be denser on the side that is shadier the north in the Northern Hemisphere and the south in the Southern Hemisphere.
Calculate direction with an analogue watch and the sun. The sun can be used in conjunction with a non-digital wristwatch to provide an approximate idea of the cardinal directions if you find yourself lost in the woods but at least have a wristwatch. In the Northern Hemisphere, point the hour hand on your watch at the sun. When you are facing south, east is on your left and west is on your right.
It can also have a margin of error of about 35 degrees, so this method is only reliable for an approximate idea of direction. Method 4. Recognize Polaris. Polaris, also called the North Star, can be used in the Northern Hemisphere to help you find north. Polaris, or the North Star, is not one of the brightest stars in the night sky it clocks in at 48th brightest.
It is, however, the brightest star between the Big Dipper and Cassiopeia. Locate Polaris. Think of the Big Dipper like a ladle hence the name , where the handle holds a cup, and the outer edge of the cup the farthest from the handle points out into the sky and toward Polaris. For confirmation, Polaris is the last star that makes up the handle of the Little Dipper. Draw an imaginary line from Polaris to the ground.
This is approximately true north. When you face Polaris, you are facing due north; behind you is due south, and due west will be on your left, while due east will be on your right. Method 5. Recognize the Southern Cross. In the Southern Hemisphere, the constellation of the Southern Cross aka Crux can be used to guide you in a southerly direction. Five stars make this constellation, and its four brightest form an angled cross.
Use the Southern Cross to find south. Find the two stars that make up the lengthwise portion of the cross and imagine a line that extends out four and a half times greater than the full length of the cross. When you reach the terminus of that imaginary line, draw another imaginary line that extends to the ground. This is, in general, the direction of south.
When the cross is lying horizontal, the "four and a half times" mark will be less than one degree from true south. When the cross is vertical or upside down, the mark will be about two and a half degrees about a thumb's width from true south. Choose a guiding landmark. Method 6. Gather your tools and equipment. A compass is a round instrument with all the cardinal directions printed on it. You can make your own rudimentary compass if you have a few items available.
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