If you have no compass but you need to know where north and south are, you can use a normal clock face to approximate those directions and this article will tell you how.
Steps
Step 1. Determine if you are in the northern or southern hemisphere
Step 2. In the northern hemisphere:
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Keep the watch horizontally.
Use an Analog Watch as a Compass Step 2Bullet1 -
Point the hour hand towards the sun.
Use an Analog Watch as a Compass Step 2Bullet2 -
Divide the angle between the hour hand and the noon sign to derive the north-south line (replace it with 1 during summer time). North will be the furthest direction from the sun.
Use an Analog Watch as a Compass Step 2Bullet3 Step 3. In the southern hemisphere:
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Keep the watch horizontally.
Use an Analog Watch as a Compass Step 3Bullet1 -
Point midday towards the sun.
Use an Analog Watch as a Compass Step 3Bullet2 -
Divide the angle between the hour hand and the noon sign to get the north-south line.
Use an Analog Watch as a Compass Step 3Bullet3 -
North will be the closest direction to the sun, South will be the opposite.
Use an Analog Watch as a Compass Step 3Bullet4 Advice
- The farther you are from the equator, the more accurate the results will be, since the sun will cast a longer shadow.
- If the sky is cloudy or overcast, find an open area as far as possible from the obstructions of the sun, and hold a stick, branch, ruler, pole or some other straight object. A slight shadow will be cast in almost any condition.
- You don't need a real watch, you can draw a dial on a piece of paper and the trick works anyway. It has nothing to do with the clock itself, apart from knowing the time.
- Doesn't work with digital watches!
- For best results, set the clock to "true" local time, in other words, no solar / daylight hours.
Warnings
- Proper understanding of how to use a map and compass should be your top navigation priority in case you are venturing into unknown and potentially dangerous places.
- A quick trick like this is useful but don't rely on this information in critical situations.
- Buying expensive items that require batteries does not replace the knowledge that one day it could save your life or that of others in case the batteries run out or become damaged.
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