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Compass Directions
In case one desires to locate north and has no compass, a watch may be used.
Point the hour hand to the sun. In the morning, halfway between the outside end
of the hour hand and noon is due south; in the afternoon,
one must reckon halfway backward; for instance, at 8 A. M., point the hour hand
to the sun and find the place halfway to noon. It will be at 10, which is due south.
At 4 o'clock, point the hour hand at the sun and reckon halfway, and the south
will be found at 2 o'clock.
The reason "halfway" is used, is that, while the sun makes a course of 24 hours,
the clock makes a course every 12 hours. If our timepieces were rational and had
a face showing 24 hours, the hour hand pointed to the sun would make
12 o'clock, noon, always south.
If the sun is clouded and you cannot see it, get into a clear open space.
Hold your knife point upright on the watch dial, and it will, unless the clouds are very heavy,
cast a faint shadow, showing where the sun really is.
Using the Moon
A. If the moon rises BEFORE the sun sets, the illuminated side will be seen on the earth in the WEST.
B. If the moon rises AFTER the sun sets, the illuminated side will be on the EAST.
C. If the moon rises at the SAME TIME as the sun sets we see a FULL MOON.
A rough guide to finding
NORTH / SOUTH using the moon can be had simply by drawing a straight line
from the two points of the crescent.
In case one desires to locate north and has no compass, a watch may be used.
Point the hour hand to the sun. In the morning, halfway between the outside end
of the hour hand and noon is due south; in the afternoon,
one must reckon halfway backward; for instance, at 8 A. M., point the hour hand
to the sun and find the place halfway to noon. It will be at 10, which is due south.
At 4 o'clock, point the hour hand at the sun and reckon halfway, and the south
will be found at 2 o'clock.
The reason "halfway" is used, is that, while the sun makes a course of 24 hours,
the clock makes a course every 12 hours. If our timepieces were rational and had
a face showing 24 hours, the hour hand pointed to the sun would make
12 o'clock, noon, always south.
If the sun is clouded and you cannot see it, get into a clear open space.
Hold your knife point upright on the watch dial, and it will, unless the clouds are very heavy,
cast a faint shadow, showing where the sun really is.
Using the Moon
A. If the moon rises BEFORE the sun sets, the illuminated side will be seen on the earth in the WEST.
B. If the moon rises AFTER the sun sets, the illuminated side will be on the EAST.
C. If the moon rises at the SAME TIME as the sun sets we see a FULL MOON.
A rough guide to finding
NORTH / SOUTH using the moon can be had simply by drawing a straight line
from the two points of the crescent.
