Hey Ray: The sun compass

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – How about some survival science?  

No, we’re not going to wrestle bears, however I’m going to indicate you the best way to discover your route.  If in case you have ever been misplaced in an unfamiliar place, understanding instructions may be crucial. 

To determine a route, all you want is our closest star. 

The Solar!

There are three principal latitude strains on a map: the Equator, the Tropic Of Most cancers, and the Tropic Of Capricorn. 

These strains of latitude are necessary to understanding the Solar’s place. 

All year long, the Solar will solely be straight overhead areas between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Most cancers. These areas are 23.5° South and 23.5° North respectively.

Since all three of these strains are properly south of us, and we’re within the Northern Hemisphere, the Solar will all the time journey East to West in our southern sky. This offers us the primary bit of information to make a compass utilizing the Solar.  

Because the Solar takes its each day east-to-west path via our southern sky, which means the shadows it casts will probably be pointing north-ish. 

This info is beneficial in narrowing down our instructions. 

Subsequent, we are going to want a straight stick or pole.  We’ll use this to trace the Solar’s path, so we will end our compass. 

Put the stick on the bottom and mark the tip of the shadow. For my experiment, I’m utilizing the flat edges of those rocks for markers.  You’ll be able to put smaller sticks within the floor in order for you as properly. 

Once more, mark the tip of the shadow. 

You then wait quarter-hour for the Solar to maneuver, then mark the tip of the following shadow. 

Do this two extra occasions and you should have a line of markers.

The rock in your left is your western coordinate. The rock on the appropriate is the jap coordinate. In case you put your ft on the 2 rocks within the center and face the route the shadow was pointing, you’ll be wanting northward! 

This isn’t going to be completely correct, however it would get you stepping into the appropriate route.

Clearly, this may not work when it’s cloudy!