Sports & Recreation: How to find directions North, South, East, West by using Sun, Shadow, and Star method

These times we have maps, compass, GPS, and other instruments to help us to navigate day or night in our outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, scouting, fishing, etc. However, there may be times when we need to find directions (especially lost in the woods out there, nowhere and in survival situations) and we don't have any direction-finding tools and devices available in hand. This is where the Shadow Stick method during the day time will be useful. In this method, remember that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Also, the sun casts a shadow in the opposite direction. In the northern hemisphere, shadows move clockwise while in the southern hemisphere, shadows move counterclockwise. The Shadow Stick method works everywhere on Earth, any point in the world. During the night time, the Star method is used to determine the directions depending on which hemisphere you are on the earth. This method uses the Big Dipper and Cassiopeia constellations in the northern hemisphere and the Southern Cross or Crux constellation in the southern hemisphere.

How to find directions North, South, East, West during day time by using Shadow Stick Method:

1. Find a 1 foot to 1 1/2 foot (12 inches to 18 inches) straight stick. You can get this on the ground or from branches, bushes, or twigs.

2. Under direct sunlight, erect the stick in an upright, vertical position in the ground. The stick should cast a shadow.
Fig. 1.

3. Mark the end point (tip) of the shadow with a small stick, stone, pebble or similar objects for marking the starting point. This point is along the Westward direction.

4. Remember that the Sun rises in the East and sets in the West. Also, shadows move in the opposite direction to the movement of the light source (in this case, the Sun). Therefore, the shadow of the stick will move in the Eastward direction while the sun will move in the Westward direction.

5. Wait for 20 to 30 minutes. If you are lost in the middle of nowhere in the woods or jungle, you can use this time to think and figure out plans on how to get to the nearest village, city or any sign of civilization with people present. Think also of other alternatives to find your way back home.

6. Come back to the stick. Mark the second end point or tip of the shadow with a marker. This point is an Eastward point.
Fig. 2.

7. Remove the stick that you placed in the ground.
Fig. 3.

8. Draw a straight line between the two markers to connect the two points. This is the West-East line.
Fig. 4.

9. At the midpoint of the West-East line, draw a perpendicular line, this will be the North-South line. Remember that when you are standing with your left foot on the West marker and your right foot on the East marker, you will be facing North, and your back is South.
Fig. 5.

10. Now that you know where is the North, South, East, and West directions, you can work out your plans.

How to find directions North, South, East, West at night time by using Big Dipper and Cassiopeia (Northern Hemisphere):

1. The shadow stick method is effective during day time wherever you are on planet Earth. However, at night time, this method is ineffective. Without maps, compass, GPS devices, or smartphones with GPS, you can still find directions by using the Star method.

2. When you are located on the Northern Hemisphere (north of equator), example are countries in Europe, North America, Central America and Caribbean, and most of Asia, you can use the Big Dipper and Cassiopeia constellations of stars to find your directions.

3. Imagine a straight line from the two stars at the "bucket edge" of the Big Dipper to the North Star or Polaris.

4. Imagine a straight line from the middle star of the Cassiopeia constellation (shaped like a W). This line will point to the North Star.
Fig. 6.

5. Establish the other directions as shown on the picture.

How to find directions North, South, East, West at night time by using Southern Cross, Crux (Southern Hemisphere):

1. As mentioned above, the shadow stick method is a good method to find directions during the day anywhere and everywhere you are in the world, regardless of which hemisphere you are, Northern or Southern.

2. When you are located on the Southern Hemisphere (south of equator), examples are Australia, most countries in South America and southern half of Africa, Asian islands of southern Indonesia and East Timor, and the continent Antarctica, you can use the Southern Cross or Crux constellation of stars to find your directions.

3. Imagine a line connecting the "longer side of the cross". At about five times the distance between the two stars specified (see illustration), establish an imaginary point and project this point directly downwards to a South marker or landmark (can be a tree, hill, mountain, big rock, etc.).

4. Facing the Southern Cross constellation, you are facing the South. The North is therefore behind you. Your left side is the East and your right side is the West.
Fig. 7.