The ability to navigate the terrain can be useful not only on a camping trip, but also when picking mushrooms or berries. Usually a compass is used for these purposes. But what if such a useful device was not at hand? In clear sunny weather in the forest, you can determine the sides of the horizon by the position of the solar disk.
Necessary
- - sunny weather;
- - analogue clock.
Instructions
Step 1
Remember that in the northern hemisphere, the sun rises in the northeast and sinks below the horizon in the northwest. At the latitude of Central Russia, the daylight is in the south at about one o'clock in the afternoon. Thus, a significant part of the daylight hours - from 10 am to 7 pm, the sun is located on the south side of you. This is enough to roughly determine your location and the direction of the exit to the desired point on the ground.
Step 2
For a more accurate determination of the sides of the horizon from the sun, use a watch with an arrow dial. Place the watch on a horizontal surface with the hour hand pointing towards the sun disc. Divide the angle between this direction and the direction at 13 o'clock. The line through the midpoint of the corner will be facing south. Before noon, divide the angle on the dial, which the hour hand must pass before 13 o'clock, and in the afternoon - here the angle that the hand passed after 13 o'clock (see figure).
Step 3
Knowing the direction to the south, determine the position of the other sides of the horizon. Stand with your back to the south. In front of you will be north, on the left - west, and on the right - east. These sides of the horizon are at right angles to each other, so it is convenient to use your palm when orienting: move your thumb to the side as much as possible. The angle between thumb and forefinger will be approximately 90 degrees.
Step 4
In the absence of a dial watch, take advantage of the knowledge that the sun is in the Northern Hemisphere:
- at 7 o'clock in the morning - in the east;
- at 13 o'clock - in the south;
- at 19 o'clock - in the west.
This knowledge will help you determine intermediate directions, for example, northeast, southwest, and so on.
Step 5
Remember also that the sun moves across the firmament at a certain angular speed: 15 degrees per hour. If at 13 o'clock it is in the south, then in three hours it will pass 3 x 15 = 45 degrees to the west, which is half of the right angle. Mentally set aside half of the right angle from the direction to the sun, and you get the direction to the south.
