Finding North

The Shadow-Tip Method

1. Place a straight stick upright in the ground so that you can see its shadow.
Alternatively, you can use the shadow of a fixed object that is perpendicular to the
ground. Nearly any object will work, but the taller the object is, the easier it will be to
see the movement of its shadow, and the narrower the tip of the object is, the more
accurate the reading will be. Make sure the shadow is cast on a level, brush-free spot.
2. Mark the tip of the shadow with a small object, such as a pebble, or a distinct
scratch in the ground. Try to make the mark as small as possible so as to pinpoint the
shadow's tip, but make sure you can identify the mark later.
3. Wait 10-15 minutes. The shadow will move approximately from west to east in an
arc which depends on your latitude and the season.
4. Mark the new position of the shadow's tip with another small object or scratch. It
will likely move only a short distance.
5. Draw a straight line in the ground through the two marks. This is an east-to-west
line.
6. Stand with the first mark (west) on your left, and the other (east) on your right.
You are now facing approximately toward true north. (Accuracy improves as your
location approaches the equator, and as the time of year approaches either equinox.)

Alternative Shadow-Tip Method for Increased Accuracy

1. Set up stick and mark first shadow-tip as above. For this method, take your first
reading in the morning, at least an hour or so before midday.
2. Find an object or length of string, etc., exactly the same length as the shadow.
3. Continue taking measurements of the shadow's length every 10-20 minutes. The
shadow will shrink until midday, when it is at its shortest. Then it will gradually grow
longer.
4. Measure the shadow length as the shadow grows. Use the stick or object you
used to measure the length of the initial shadow. When the shadow grows to exactly
the same length as the stick (and hence exactly the same length as your first
measurement), mark the spot.
5. Draw a line connecting the first and second marks as above. Once again, this is
your east-west line, and if you stand with the first mark on your left and the second on
your right, you will be facing in the approximate direction of true north. (Note: for an
exact reading, your two marks need to be made at exact intervals before and after
noon where you are, which means when the sun is at its highest point in the sky. Any
deviation from this leads to inaccuracy.)

Another Alternate Shadow-Tip Method

1. Find a straight, slender stick that is 1 to 2 feet in length.

2. Stick it in the ground, pointing directly at the sun. You should see no shadow.
3. Wait 10-15 minutes, or until there is a shadow 4 inches long. The shadow should
be pointing due east.
4. Stand with the stick on your left, with the shadow extending to your right. You are
now facing north.

Watch Method: Northern Hemisphere

1. Find an analog watch (the kind with hour and minute hands) that is set accurately.
Place it on a level surface, such as the ground, or hold it horizontal in your hand.
 2. Point the hour hand at the sun. You can use a stick to cast a shadow to aid in your
alignment if you wish, but it is not necessary.
3. Bisect (that is, find the center point of) the angle between the hour hand and the
twelve o'clock mark (the number 12 on the watch). The center of the angle between
the hour hand and twelve o'clock mark is the north-south line. If you don't know which
way is north and which south, just remember that no matter where you are, the sun
rises in the east and sets in the west. In the northern hemisphere the sun is due south
at midday. If your watch is set to daylight saving time bisect the angle between the
hour hand and the one o'clock mark instead.

Watch Method: Southern Hemisphere

1. Use an analog watch as above, and point the watches twelve o'clock mark (the
number 12) toward the sun. If your watch is set to daylight savings time, point the one
o'clock mark toward the sun.
2. Bisect the angle between the twelve o'clock mark (or one o'clock mark if using
daylight saving time) and the hour hand to find the north-south line. If you're unsure
which way is north, remember that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west no
matter where you are. In the southern hemisphere, however, the sun is due north at
midday.

Moon Method

1. Observe the moon. If it is not a full moon and rises before the sun sets, the
illuminated side is west. If the moon rises after midnight (standard time) the
illuminated side is east. This is true everywhere on Earth.
2. Approximate north and south based on the rough east-west line of the moon. No
matter where you are, if you are standing with the west side to your left, true north
will be straight ahead.

* Due to standardised time zones, the sun can reach its highest point somewhere
between 11:00 and 13:00, depending on your place in the world. Some timezones are
more than an hour wide.