There are several methods that allow us to find the north with more precision if we don’t have a compass. The most effective are probably the watch technique during the day and the stars at night with a clear sky.
Watch Method
You can use a needle clock and the sun’s position to find the north easily. You must know the sun hour, which in Spain and countries in its time zone is two hours less during the summer time and an hour less during the winter.
In mild areas of the Northern hemisphere, if we align the hour needle (the small one) with the sun, in the bisecting line that it forms with the 12 the watch is always pointing south.
In mild areas of the Southern hemisphere, the 12 should point towards the sun, and in the bisecting line it forms with the hour needle, is the North.
With the Stars
At night, if the sky is clear, guiding yourself with the stars is effective and simple.
In the Northern hemisphere of the planet, the Northern Star always points North. This star is the last of the Ursa Minor trail and, despite the fact that it is shown as a very bright star in most illustrations, its light is so pale that it is often hard to see. However, it is easy to guide yourself by the Ursa Major to locate the star. To do this you have to extend the distance separating the two frontal stars of the Ursa Major four times.
In the Southern hemisphere we must look for the “Southern Cross”, a constellation in the shape of a kite or diamond. If we extend the length of the kite four times and a half, the imaginary point we locate will always indicate South.
By the Sun
The sunrise and sunset are also a reference. We have all been taught that the sun rises through the east and sets on the west. However, it only does so in the exact point in the equinox, i.e. around March 21st and September 23rd and if we are in a flat area. The rest of the year and surrounded by mountain ranges, the reference is only approximate.
By the Moon
The moon can also provide us with an approximation of the cardinal points. When it is crescent, the ends always point east and when it is waning, towards the west. If you have doubts about the phase, think that the moon “lies”. When it has the shape of a “C” for “crescent”, it is really waning.
By the shade of a stick
If we nail a stick on the ground, we mark the edge of the shadow, we wait for fifteen minutes and mark the edge of the shadow again, when joining these two points, the line we get will indicate east and west (the first point is the west and the second one is the east). We will get north and south by tracing a perpendicular line. This system only provides an approximate reference. The more time we let pass between the first and the second mark and closer we are to noon, the more precise it will be.
There is another, more precise method, but limited to noon.
Drive a stick that projects a 30 or 40 cm shadow into a flat terrain and mark the edge of the shadow. Then, with a shoelace, a branch or other method
, trace a circumference using the length of the shadow as the ratio. Now we must wait for the sun’s movement. The shadow will grow smaller as we approach12:00:00 PM, the moment in which it will reach its smallest size before growing again. When the shadow reaches the circumference again, mark the point. When joining both marks, trace a line from west (the first mark) to east (the second mark). North and South will be in the perpendicular.
Natural Signs
There are indications in nature that can give us clues about our direction. They are not very accurate, but can prevent us from wasting time going in circles in exceptional circumstances.
In the Northern hemisphere moss grows in the most shaded and humid areas of the trunks, which usually corresponds to the Northern face. This may vary locally due to a particular microclimate.
In the mountains, the northern slopes receive the least sun, for which they are usually more humid, have colder tonalities and retain snow longer.
Tree growth rings are usually more developed on the side they receive the most sun, although there may be factors altering this development.
