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Find true north without a compass
Which way is north? Whether you're lost in the woods or you're trying to install a sundial in your
yard, you're bound to want to find true north from time to time, and chances are when the time
comes you won't have a compass. So what's an intrepid explorer to do?
Using the Stars: Northern Hemisphere
1. Locate the North Star (Polaris) in the night sky. The North Star is the last star in the
handle of the Little Dipper or Plough constellation. If you have trouble finding it, find the
Plough. The two lowest stars in the Big Dipper (the outermost stars of the cup of the
dipper) form a straight line that "points" to the North Star. You may also find the
constellation Cassiopeia, which is always opposite the Big Dipper. The North Star is
located about midway between the central star of Cassiopeia and the Big Dipper (see
figure).
2. Draw an imaginary line straight down from the North Star to the ground. This direction is
true north, and if you can find a landmark in the distance at this point, you can use it to
guide yourself.
The watch method
1. Find an analog watch (the kind with hour and minute hands) that is set accurately. Place
it on a level surface, such as the ground, or hold it horizontal in your hand.
2. Point the hour hand at the sun. You can use a stick to cast a shadow to aid in your
alignment if you wish, but it is not necessary.
3. Bisect (find the centre point of) the angle between the hour hand and the twelve o'clock
mark (the number 12 on the watch). The centre of the angle between the hour hand and
twelve o'clock mark is the north-south line. If you don't know which way is north and
which south, just remember that no matter where you are, the sun rises in the east and
sets in the west. In the northern hemisphere the sun is due south at midday. If your
watch is set to daylight savings time bisect the angle between the hour hand and the one
o'clock mark instead.
From wiki How to do anything - http://www.wikihow.com/Find-True-North-Without-a-Compass