The thickness of the stick can vary, but something around 0. 5 inches (1. 3 cm) should work in most situations. If the sky is overcast, a thicker stick can help cast a more visible shadow.

Use rocks or dirt to keep the stick standing up straight. It’s important that the shadow is cast on flat ground, free of grass and other vegetation. If the ground is uneven or grassy, the shadow will be distorted. Clear some ground if you have to.

Since the sun moves across the sky east to west, it’s casting a shadow on the opposite side. This means that the shadow’s original location is your western-most point.

If you have no way to keep time, then just keep an eye on the shadow. When you see that it’s moved, you can mark the new location and proceed.

Remember, use something that won’t blow away. If you lose both shadow locations, you’ll have to start over.

To connect the 2 rocks, you can either draw a straight line in the dirt or lay a straight stick between them.

Remember that the directions on a compass are North, East, South, and West in a clockwise direction. If you forget the order of the directions on a compass, remember the phrase “Never Eat Soggy Watermelon,” a memory device to remember the directions.

If you want to keep track of these directions, mark an ‘N’ where your front is facing and an ‘S’ where your back is facing to keep track. This method works the same in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The only difference is that in the Northern Hemisphere, the sun will be at your back, and in the Southern Hemisphere the sun will be in front of you. [9] X Research source

For this method, use an analog watch with an hour and minute hand. A digital watch won’t work.

Some analog watches have an adjustable rim for direction finding. If your watch has this, you can adjust it so an arrow sits at this halfway point. Note that this method isn’t perfect because time zones throughout the world are not always consistent. You may not be able to locate the precise point of true north, but it will give you its general location.

In the Southern Hemisphere, true north is the side pointing towards the sun.

Remember that Daylight Savings is between March and November in participating areas.

The Big Dipper gets its name because it looks like a large spoon and is made up of some of the brightest stars in the sky. Look up and find the collection of stars that look like this. Contrary to popular belief, the North Star is not the brightest star in the sky. Use these constellations to locate it.

The North Star forms the end of the handle on the Little Dipper and is the brightest star in that constellation. When you think you’ve found the North Star, look around it and see if it’s part of a small, spoon-shaped constellation. If so, then you’ve located it.

Remember if you’re facing north, the other directions from right to left are east, south, and west.

The North Star is approximately 6 times the distance between the 2 pointer stars. Look at the space between those 2 stars and then multiply that distance by 6. This gives you the approximate location for the North Star.

The constellation is made up of 4 bright stars that form a kite shape if you trace the border around them.

The pointer stars are some of the brightest in the Southern Hemisphere. If you’re having trouble finding the Southern Cross, locating the pointer stars is a good starting point.

Hold a strong or a straight stick out in front of you to help envision a straight line. Depending on the time of year, this line may hit the ground since the constellation rotates along with Earth.

Use a natural landmark as a reference point. For instance, a tall tree in the distance could mark the intersection between the 2 lines, indicating where true south is.