Well, it may seem strange, but you can determine the position of true North and how to orientate in nature without GPS or compass. 

In addition, the compass does not detect the geographic North but the magnetic one, but this is a detail that in fact is of little relevance for hiking purposes only. In fact, even with the system that I am about to propose, we do not find the exact geographical North. At most we find a good approximation. The error will be due to the division of the globe into “quantized” time zones. In fact, the method aims to determine the North based on the astronomical observation of the position of the Sun and on the knowledge of its apparent motion in the celestial vault.

In fact, it is known that the sun culminates at 12 noon every day of the year in the South (for the northern hemisphere). It is also known that it travels 360° in the space of 24 hours always pointing East at 6 in the morning, regardless of whether the Sun at this time is below the horizon (from the autumn equinox to the spring equinox) or above the horizon (from the spring equinox to the autumn equinox). Furthermore, it will always be found towards the South at 12.00. In this case, attention must be paid to the summer time period in which our clocks are all artificially moved forward by one hour. At 18.00 the sun will therefore always be in the West (even if it will be below the horizon in winter). Furthermore, to better understand all the dynamics, it is also known that the Sun at 24 (midnight) will be virtually in the North. Virtually because it is not visible as it is abundantly below the horizon.

From here we understand that knowing what time it is, we can also know the position of the cardinal points. Let’s see how to do it using an analog clock in order to orientate without GPS or compass..

Meanwhile, we have to take the watch off our wrist and place it horizontally or also placing it on the ground. Then you need to divide the current time on a 24 hour basis by two and point the result towards the Sun. For example at 10am 10/2 is 5 and point 5 o’clock towards the Sun. At 6pm 18/2 is 9 we aim at 9 o’clock towards the Sun. Once this is done, the geographic North will found at 6 o’clock of our watch and the South towards 12 o’clock of our watch and consequently the other cardinal points.

The small mistake made will be due, in addition to the operator’s lack of precision, also to the fact that the time of our watch, assuming it is restored to perfection, is based on the average time of the time zone in which we find ourselves. Instead, 12 o’clock of the Sun, and therefore the geographic South, is relative to the exact position in which we find ourselves on the terrestrial globe or to our longitude.

To be clearer, the true noon of the point in which we find ourselves can be up to about thirty minutes before or after that of our clock with an error that can reach about ten angle degrees on true North. As I said, it is an error of little relevance for hiking purposes for which it is sufficient to know which way to go.

To orientate without GPS or compass It is also possible to carry out similar procedures even at night using the apparent position of the Moon. In fact, the full moon follows the path of the sun almost perfectly, but with timing shifted by 12 hours. So we know that the full moon culminates at 24 in the South. We can therefore use the same system proposed above and point the current time divided by two towards the Moon and we will have North at 6 and South at 12. With the Moon in the first quarter instead we will have North at 9 and South at 3. This is because the Moon in the first quarter culminates in the South at 21. The last quarter Moon instead culminates in the South at 3 in the morning and therefore with the usual method we will have the North indicated from 3 and the South at 9. As can be seen, therefore, even at night it is possible to orient oneself without a compass and determine the (approximate) position of geographic North based on the position of the Moon. In truth, in the northern hemisphere, nights with clear skies are facilitated by the comfortable presence of the Polar Star, so, with a little training, it is possible to recognise Polaris and there will be North, without too many approximations or the possibility of error.

For more information, watch the video.

To better understand how the method works, take part in one of the next excursions and ask the guide. Contact us.