The compass was invented in the 11th or 12th century. Until then, people were finding directions following different natural signs.
Most of their direction orientation methods were accurate and proven correct by science, so you can learn how to tell direction without a compass and efficiently navigate an unknown area.
Also, you can use other objects to find the direction, but we believe that the natural signs might be more accurate than anything else. Let’s take a look at the methods you can tell a direction by following the Sun and the stars.
How to Tell Direction Without a Compass
The easiest way is to follow the sunrise and sunset. The Sun rises from the east and heads to the west. You can use the sticks or analog watch method if it is highest in the sky. At night, it is best to orient by the North Star, the brightest star we often see in the sky, or the last star of the Small Dipper.
If you somehow have an analog watch on your hand, it might help you find the directions by following the Sun. Unfortunately, the watch can not help you during the night.
However, if you get lost and need to find a direction, it is essential to know which hemisphere you are in and how to navigate by the stars and Sun.
The two accurate and reliable direction finder signs are the Sun throughout the day and the North Star at night. If it gets cloudy, these two methods might not be a helping hand in finding a direction.
But it does not mean you have no way out! Other natural signs may help you find the direction without a compass.
Also read: How to Learn Land Navigation
Natural Direction Finders Explained
The sun
The sun is the most significant and accurate direction pointer. It is logical to follow the sunset and sunrise to determine where is east and where is west.
If you are facing the sunrise, it means you are facing east. West is behind your back, while the north is left and the south is right. You can also pull the arms up 90 degrees from the body to determine the directions.
Facing sunset means the opposite. Your back is East, your right hand is North, and your left hand is South.
If the Sun is highest in the sky, you should try the shadows and sticks and analog watch method, explained below.
The stars
At night, you can use the stars when there is no Sun to determine the directions.
The brightest star in the sky is the North Star. It is also the last star of the handle of the Little Dipper constellation. Once you find the North Star, you draw an imaginary line to the ground. This will be your North.
If you are facing difficulties finding the North Star, try to find the Big Dipper first. The two stars lowest on the Big Dipper constellation form a straight line to the North Star.
So, if you are facing North, South is behind your back, East is right, and West is left.
The Small Dipper and the Big Dipper constellations will help you if you are in the Northern hemisphere or North America, Europe, Asia, and the top half of Africa.
South America, the bottom half of Africa, and Australia are in the southern hemisphere.
If you are located in the southern hemisphere, you should search for the Orion constellation. Find Orion’s belt or the three closest stars in a row, which are running from East to West. Find the middle star of Orion’s belt and draw an imaginary line straight to the ground to find where the North is.
Also read: What Are Ranger Beads?
Shadows and sticks
You can use the shadows and sticks method regardless of whether you’re in the southern or northern hemisphere. This direction-finding method relies on the fact that the Sun travels from East to West in the sky.
You can try this method if you can not determine East and West by sunrise and sunset.
Stick a stick straight on the ground. The stick you need to determine the direction should be as straight as possible and tall enough to see a clear shadow on the ground. Conversely, the ground where you’ll stick the stick should be flat, with no bushes around.
Place a stone or mark the spot where the stick shadow lines or on the tip of the shadow if it’s shorter. Then, wait for about 15 minutes.
The shadow will move West to East. Mark the new shadow with another stone or object. Draw a line from the first to the second object.
The first stone is your West and the second stone is East. Place your left foot on the first stone(West) and your right foot on the second stone (East). You’ll face North, and South will be your back.
This method gives approximate direction accuracy. It is not a 100% accurate method in determining the directions.
Analog watch
If you have an analog watch, you can determine the directions by pointing its hands to the Sun.
Place the watch horizontally. Point the hour hand of the analog watch to the Sun and draw an imaginary line between the Sun and the number 12 on the watch. The line in between points South.
Explore nature on a cloudy day
If there are no Sun and stars in the sky, you can not find the directions with the previous methods. So, you should consider other things in nature to determine the directions.
In this case, you should search for moss on a solitary tree. Moss grows in the shady spot, meaning it points to the northern side of the trees.
Also read: What Is a Signal Mirror?
Conclusion
Knowing how to tell direction without a compass might help you get out of the forest or woods in case you get lost.
It is good to have an alternative way to find the way out because we do not carry tools and smart navigation devices everywhere with us.