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The four cardinal directions, or cardinal points, are the four main compass directions: north, south, east, and west, commonly denoted by their initials N, S, E, and W respectively. Relative to north, the directions east, south, and west are at 90 degree intervals in the clockwise direction.
The directions are at \ (90°\) angles on the compass rose. The four ordinal directions are Northeast (NE), Southeast (SE), Southwest (SW) and Northwest (NW). They are halfway between the cardinal...
- Overview
- Shadow Stick
- Shadow Dial
- Navigating With Your Natural Surroundings
- Navigating with Polaris (North Sta
- Navigating with the Southern Cross
- Making Your Own Compass
- Determining Direction With Magnetic or Electronic Devices
Being able to determine the cardinal directions using various methods can help you win orienteering challenges, help you find your way if you’re turned around, or could even save your neck if you’re lost alone somewhere. There are some easy ways to figure out directions, but if you
or cell phone handy, you can still determine north, south, east, and west.
Since the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, the shadows it casts will always move in the opposite direction, and you can observe their motions to determine directions. For this method, you will need:
A straight stick that’s between two and five feet long
A straight stick that’s about one foot long
Two rocks, stones, or other objects (heavy enough that wind won’t blow them around).
Plant your stick upright in the ground.
Place one of the rocks on the ground to mark the tip of the stick’s shadow.
This method is similar to the stick method, but it’s more reliable partly because it uses a longer observation time, but mostly because it uses equal times before and after local noon. Locate flat ground and collect your tools:
A stick or pole that’s two to five feet long
Something like a long string
Put the long pole in the ground.
This must be done before noon. Wherever the shadow of the pole ends, place a rock.
Attach the string to the stick and pole.
Look for the sun at noon.
At noon, the sun can point you in the general direction of north and south, and consequently east and west, but it will not tell you due north or due south. In the Northern Hemisphere, walking directly toward the sun at noon will lead you south, while walking directly away from the sun will lead you north. In the Southern Hemisphere, the opposite is true: toward the sun will lead you north, and away from the sun will lead you south.
Use sunrise and sunset for approximate directions.
The sun rises in the general direction of east and sets in the general direction of west every day, so you can use the location of sunrise or sunset to get an approximate idea of direction. Face the sunrise and you are facing east; north will be on your left and south will be on your right. Face the sunset and you are facing west; north will be on your right and south will be on your left.
Polaris, also called the North Star, can be used in the Northern Hemisphere to help you find north. This is one of the quickest ways to determine your directions at night if you don’t have a compass or GPS.
Polaris, or the North Star, is not one of the brightest stars in the night sky (it clocks in at 48th brightest). It is, however, the brightest star between the
and Cassiopeia. Because it’s located in the sky around the North Pole, it doesn’t move around much, meaning it’s useful and accurate for navigating.
Find the Big Dipper (also known as the Plough) and the
(aka Ursa Minor). Think of the Big Dipper like a ladle (hence the name), where the handle holds a cup, and the outer edge of the cup (the farthest from the handle) points out into the sky and toward Polaris. For confirmation, Polaris is the last star that makes up the handle of the Little Dipper.
Draw an imaginary line from Polaris to the ground.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the constellation of the Southern Cross (aka Crux) can be used to guide you in a southerly direction. Five stars make this constellation, and its four brightest form an angled cross.
Use the Southern Cross to find south.
Find the two stars that make up the lengthwise portion of the cross and imagine a line that extends out four and a half times greater than the full length of the cross.
When you reach the terminus of that imaginary line, draw another imaginary line that extends to the ground. This is, in general, the direction of south. When the cross is lying horizontal, the "four and a half times" mark will be less than one degree from true south. When the cross is vertical or upside down, the mark will be about two and a half degrees (about a thumb's width) from true south.
Gather your tools and equipment.
is a round instrument with all the cardinal directions printed on it. A rotating needle uses the Earth’s magnetic field to determine what direction the compass is facing. You can make your own rudimentary compass if you have a few items available. You will need:
A metal sewing needle and magnet
A bowl or cup filled with water
A cork (or just a leaf).
Rub the needle against the magnet.
Find your direction with a compass.
Day or night, using a compass,
, or cell phone equipped with either is the best and easiest way to determine directions. These devices are also the most accurate, making them the most reliable methods. But, it’s important to note that when your compass points north, for instance, it’s pointing you in the direction of magnetic north, which is different from true north (the same goes for magnetic south versus true south).
As you spin around in different directions, the compass needle will spin as well, indicating which direction you are facing.
A compass will give false readings around metal objects like keys, watches, and belt buckles. The same is true for magnetic objects, such as certain rocks or power lines.
Use a global positioning system.
Jul 22, 2013 · Ordinal directions refer to the direction found at the point equally between each cardinal direction. Ordinal directions are: northeast (NE), southeast (SE), southwest (SW), and northwest (NW). Ordinal directions are also known as intercardinal directions.
The direction to a point is stated as the number of degrees east or west of north or south. For example, the direction of A from O is N30ºE. B is N60ºW from O. C is S70ºE from O. D is S80ºW from O. Note: N30ºE means the direction is 30º east of north.
The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A compass rose is primarily composed of four cardinal directions — north, east, south, and west —each separated by 90 degrees, and secondarily divided by four ordinal (intercardinal) directions—northeast ...
People also ask
What is the difference between North and South astronomy?
What are the points at right angles to the north and South?
What is the opposite of Southeast?
Which hemisphere will lead you South?
A Both have the same meaning, but go south has largely supplanted the older go west in the USA and seems likely to do so everywhere else fairly soon. In Britain, it tends to be younger people that use go south, leaving us older ones sounding geographically challenged. Let’s take them in order.
