Knowing which way is north is the foundation for all geographic orientation and navigation. North serves as the fixed reference point from which all other cardinal directions—east, south, and west—are determined. Understanding how to find this direction is a fundamental skill that provides a sense of location and orientation. This knowledge can be a measure of safety when traditional tools fail or are unavailable, allowing for a return to a known path or location.
Finding Direction Using the Sun and Shadows
The shadow-tip method offers a relatively accurate way to determine cardinal directions based on the sun’s movement. Begin by placing a straight stick vertically into the ground on level, sunlit earth. Mark the tip of the stick’s shadow with a marker; this initial point represents west.
Wait 10 to 30 minutes, then mark the new position of the shadow’s tip with a second marker, which represents east. A line drawn between these two markers establishes an approximate east-west line. Standing with the first mark (west) to your left and the second mark (east) to your right means you are facing approximately true north.
A secondary daytime method uses an analog watch set to local time. Point the hour hand directly at the sun. The halfway point between the hour hand and the twelve o’clock mark indicates the south direction.
For a more accurate reading, use the one o’clock marker instead of the twelve during Daylight Saving Time. Once south is identified, the opposite direction is north, providing a quick directional bearing.
Finding Direction Using the Stars
At night in the Northern Hemisphere, the most reliable method involves locating Polaris, commonly known as the North Star. Polaris’s position is nearly fixed because it lies almost directly above the Earth’s North Pole along the planet’s rotational axis. Polaris remains constant in the northern sky while all other stars appear to revolve around it.
To locate Polaris, first find the Big Dipper constellation. The two stars forming the outer edge of the Dipper’s bowl are the “pointer stars.” Draw an imaginary straight line extending out from these two pointer stars.
Following this line approximately five times the distance between the pointer stars will lead you to Polaris. Once Polaris is found, drawing an imaginary line straight down to the horizon indicates the direction of true north.
Using Navigation Tools and Technology
Magnetic compasses are a reliable means of finding direction, operating on the principle that a magnetized needle aligns itself with the Earth’s magnetic field. The needle, often suspended in damping fluid to reduce oscillation, points toward Magnetic North. To use a compass, hold it flat and level, allow the needle to settle, and align the rotating housing’s orienting arrow with the north end of the magnetic needle.
Digital technology, such as smartphone applications, provides navigational data using both Global Positioning System (GPS) and internal magnetometers. GPS determines precise location using satellite signals, while the magnetometer acts as a digital compass. Digital apps can point toward true north, but their accuracy depends on a clear satellite signal and battery life.
Calibration is necessary to ensure accuracy, especially for digital devices. The internal magnetometer in a smartphone can be easily disrupted by nearby magnetic fields or electronic interference. Users often perform a figure-eight motion with the phone to recalibrate the compass sensors.
Understanding True North Versus Magnetic North
A fundamental concept in accurate navigation is the distinction between True North and Magnetic North. True North is the direction along the Earth’s surface toward the geographic North Pole, the fixed point on the axis around which the planet rotates. This direction is used for all lines of longitude on maps.
Magnetic North is the constantly moving point on the Earth’s surface where the planet’s magnetic field lines converge. This is the direction a magnetic compass needle naturally points. The compass needle points toward the horizontal component of the magnetic field where the compass is located.
The angular difference between True North and Magnetic North at any given location is known as magnetic declination. This value is important because it varies depending on your geographic position and changes over time as the magnetic pole shifts. Navigators using a map and a compass must apply this declination value to convert the magnetic bearing into a true geographic bearing.