You can use an analog watch and the sun to determine direction. This method works by aligning your watch with the sun and finding the midpoint between the hour hand and the 12 o'clock position.
The Basic Watch Compass Method
This technique is particularly useful as a backup or in situations where a traditional compass isn't available. It relies on the apparent movement of the sun across the sky.
Here are the steps to use your analog watch as a compass:
- Check the Time: First, ensure your watch is set to the correct local time. Accuracy in time is crucial for this method to work correctly.
- Orient the Watch: Lay the watch horizontally. This means the watch face should be parallel to the ground.
- Align the Hour Hand: Align the hour hand of the watch with the direction of the sun. Point the hour hand directly towards the sun's position in the sky.
- Find South: The point approximately mid-way between the 12 o'clock position on the dial and the direction of the hour hand when it is aligned with the sun indicates south.
Once you have located south, you can then deduce the other cardinal directions (north, east, and west). North will be directly opposite south, east will be to your left when facing north, and west will be to your right.
Practical Tips for Using Your Watch as a Compass
While straightforward, a few factors can affect the accuracy of this method:
- Daylight Saving Time: If your region observes daylight saving time, you might need to adjust. Instead of using the 12 o'clock position, use the 1 o'clock position as your reference point when finding the midpoint with the hour hand aligned with the sun. This effectively subtracts the extra hour added for daylight saving.
- Hemisphere: The method described above is for the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, you align the 12 o'clock mark with the sun, and the point halfway between the 12 o'clock and the hour hand indicates north.
- Time of Day: The method is most accurate when the sun is not directly overhead.
- Accuracy: This method provides an approximate direction. It is not as precise as a dedicated compass.
Understanding Why it Works
The method works because in the Northern Hemisphere, the sun rises in the east, is highest in the south around midday, and sets in the west. An analog watch's hour hand completes two full rotations (720 degrees) in 24 hours, while the earth rotates 360 degrees relative to the sun in the same period. This 2:1 ratio allows the watch face to be used as a rough guide to the sun's path.
Summary Table
| Step | Action | Key Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Check Time | Ensure watch shows local time. | Accurate starting point. |
| 2. Orient Watch | Lay watch flat horizontally. | Correct plane for alignment. |
| 3. Align Hour Hand | Point the hour hand directly at the sun. | Establishes sun's direction on watch face. |
| 4. Find South | Identify midpoint between 12 (or 1 for DST) and hour hand direction. | Indicates South (Northern Hemisphere). |
Using your watch as a compass is a valuable survival skill that requires only a standard analog timepiece and clear view of the sun.
