Being able to identify cardinal points with more than one method can help you win orienteering competitions, find your way back if you feel confused, or even save your life if you get lost and be alone. There are some easy ways to locate the cardinal points, even without the help of a compass or your mobile phone.
Steps
Method 1 of 7: Shadow of a Stick
Step 1. Get the tools you need
As the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, the shadow it casts will always move in the same direction and you can use this information to locate the cardinal points. In this case you will need:
- A straight stick of 60 - 150 cm in length;
- A second straight stick of about 30 cm;
- Two stones, pebbles or other objects (heavy enough not to be moved by the wind).
Step 2. Plant the stick on the ground vertically
Place a stone on the ground to mark the tip of the stick's shadow.
Step 3. Wait 15 - 20 minutes
The shadow will have moved. Take the second stone and mark the new position of the tip of the shadow.
If you can wait for any longer, do so and keep marking the position of the shadow
Step 4. Connect the dots
Draw a straight line on the ground between the two points you marked, or use the other stick to connect them. The shadow moves in the opposite direction to the sun, so the line you drew runs along the east-west axis: the first point indicates the west and the second the east. To find north and south, just remember that, on a clock, the north would be at 12 o'clock, the east at 3 o'clock, the south at 6 o'clock and the west at 9 o'clock.
Note that this method is only approximate, and has a margin of error of approximately 23 °
Method 2 of 7: Improvised Sundial
Step 1. Get the tools you need
This method is similar to that of the stick, but it is more reliable because it requires a longer observation time. Find a level ground and fix what you need:
- A stick 60 - 150 cm long;
- A small pointed stick;
- Two small stones;
- A long string or something similar.
Step 2. Plant the longest stick in the earth
You will have to do this before noon. Place a stone where the shadow comes.
Step 3. Tie the twine to the two sticks
You will need to tie one end of the wire to the pointed stick and the other to the one planted in the soil, making sure it is long enough to reach the stone on the ground.
Step 4. Draw a circle around the vertical pole
Using the stone as a starting point, use the pointed stick tied to the string to draw a circle.
Step 5. Wait
Mark with a stone the point where the shadow of the vertical pole touches the circle for the second time.
Step 6. Connect the dots
The straight line connecting the first stone with the second is oriented on the east-west axis. In particular, the first stone indicates the west and the second the east.
To find north and south, just remember that north is 90 ° clockwise from west and south 90 ° clockwise from east
Method 3 of 7: Orient yourself with the Surrounding Environment
Step 1. Observe the sun at noon
At 12 noon, the sun can point you in the general direction of north and south, and consequently east and west. In the northern hemisphere, walking directly towards the sun at noon will lead you south, while moving away from it will take you north. In the southern hemisphere, the opposite is true: moving towards the sun you will go north, and away from the sun towards the south.
Step 2. Use sunrise and sunset to get rough directions
The sun rises in the general direction of the east and sets in the direction of the west, so you can use this information to get a rough idea of the cardinal points. Watch the sunrise and you will be facing east; the north will be on the left and the south on the right. Watch the sunset and you will be facing west, north will be on the right and south will be on the left.
The position of the sun at sunrise and sunset gives you approximate indications of the cardinal points for only 363 days a year, because the sun rises exactly in the east and sets exactly in the west only on the autumn and winter equinoxes (the first day of spring and Autumn)
Step 3. Observe the growth of vegetation
While using vegetation to determine direction is not an exact science or precise method, it can often give you a basic idea of the location of the cardinal points. If you live north of the equator, the sun is usually in the southern part of the sky and the opposite is true for the southern hemisphere. This means that the leaves and vegetation will have a tendency to be thicker and denser in the southern part of the trees and bushes. In the southern hemisphere the opposite is true, i.e. the vegetation is more luxuriant on the north side.
Many guides report that moss only grows on the north side of trees in the Northern Hemisphere, but this is not the case. Moss can grow on all sides of a tree, but it is true that it will often be denser in the most shaded part (north in the northern hemisphere and south in the southern hemisphere)
Step 4. Find directions with a hand clock and the sun
You can use the sun in combination with a non-digital clock to get a rough idea of the cardinal points if you are lost. In the northern hemisphere, point the hour hand towards the sun. The south will be halfway between the 12 o'clock and the hour hand. In the southern hemisphere, align the 12 o'clock position with the sun, and the halfway point between noon and the hour hand will point north.
- When facing north, east is on your right and west is on your left. When facing south, east is on the left and west is on the right.
- If daylight saving time is in effect, use 1 instead of 12 as a reference.
- For this method to work, the clock must keep the correct time. The margin of error is around 35 °, so you can't rely on this strategy to get accurate information.
Method 4 of 7: Using the North Star to Orientate
Step 1. Locate the North Star
You can use that star to find north in the northern hemisphere. This is one of the quickest ways to locate cardinal points at night if you don't have a compass or GPS.
The North Star is one of the brightest in the night sky. Since it is located in the sky near the north pole, it does not move much, which makes it useful for precise orientation
Step 2. Find the North Star
Find the Big Dipper (also known as Ursa Major) and the Little Dipper (aka Ursa Minor). The last star of the Big Dipper points towards the North Star. For further confirmation, the North Star is the last star that makes up the "handle" of the Little Dipper.
Step 3. Draw an imaginary line from the North Star to the ground
That's the approximate direction of the north. When you are facing the North Star, you face north; behind you is the south, the west will be on your left and the east on the right.
Method 5 of 7: Using the Southern Cross for Orientation
Step 1. Locate the Southern Cross
In the Southern Hemisphere, you can use the Southern Cross constellation to find that cardinal point. The constellation is made up of five stars, and the four brightest make up an inclined cross.
Step 2. Use the Southern Cross to find the south
Find the two stars that make up the longitudinal part of the cross and imagine a line five times longer than the width of the constellation.
When you reach the end of that imaginary line, draw another imaginary line that goes all the way to the ground. That point is the general direction of the south
Step 3. Choose a landmark
When you have identified the general direction of the south, it may be useful to find a landmark on the ground at that location so that you do not lose your orientation.
Method 6 of 7: Building a Rudimentary Compass
Step 1. Get the necessary tools and equipment
A compass is a round instrument that shows the cardinal points printed on it. A rotating needle uses the Earth's magnetic field to determine the direction in which the compass is oriented. You can make a rudimentary one if you have the materials you need. You will need:
- A metal sewing needle and a magnet;
- A glass or bowl filled with water;
- Pliers and scissors;
- A cork (or even a leaf).
Step 2. Rub the needle against the magnet
Do this at least 12 times if you are using a weak magnet, such as one that sticks to the fridge, or about five times if you have a stronger one. This will serve to magnetize the needle.
Step 3. Cut a 0.5 cm disc from the cork
Then, use pliers to push the needle into the disc. If you don't have a cap, you can put the needle on a leaf.
Step 4. Place the disk in the center of the water bowl
The needle will need to be free to rotate like that of a compass, and will eventually line up with the poles.
Step 5. Wait for the needle to stop rotating
If you have magnetized it correctly, it should be aligned on the north-south axis. In the absence of a compass or other reference point, you will not be able to know whether the needle is pointing north or south.
Many websites and books suggest that it is possible to magnetize a metal needle by rubbing it on wool or silk, but this can only create static electricity, not magnetism
Method 7 of 7: Determine Cardinal Points with Magnetic or Electronic Devices
Step 1. Orient yourself with a compass
At night or during the day, the easiest way to find your way around is to use a compass, GPS, or cell phone with one of those devices. These are the most precise and consequently the most reliable solutions. However, it is important to note that when a compass points north, it points to magnetic north, which has a different direction than geographic north (the same goes for magnetic south and geographic south).
- If you rotated on yourself, the compass needle would rotate as well, to indicate the direction you are facing.
- A compass can lose its orientation near metal objects such as keys, watches, and belt buckles. The same goes for magnetic objects, such as some stones or power lines.
Step 2. Use a global tracking system
GPS is probably the easiest way to orient yourself or find the right direction, because this electronic device uses a network of satellites to pinpoint your location. You can use a GPS to understand where you are, to get directions to a place and to record your movements. You will need to charge the GPS and make sure the battery has enough power to use it. You should also initialize it before use, so that it can locate your location and download the most up-to-date and accurate maps.
- Turn on the GPS, let it charge and acquire the signal;
- The GPS not only has a compass that you can use to determine the cardinal points, but also a map with an arrow pointing in the direction you are facing;
- Your coordinates will appear at the top of the screen, where longitude and latitude data will also be provided;
- Because GPS orients itself using satellites, tall buildings, large trees, and other massive geographic structures can interfere with the signal.
Step 3. Turn your mobile into a navigation device
Most modern smartphones come with a compass, a GPS, or both. You will also be able to download applications or install programs on your phone with those features. To use the GPS function of your mobile phone, it must be connected to a Wi-Fi network or cellular data network, and the location service must be active.
