Compass direction using a watch: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 18:03, 13 March 2008

Revision as of 20:43, 23 March 2008

Line 1:

It is possible to locate a '''compass direction using a watch'''. This survival technique is well-known in organisations such as the armed forces and [[Cub Scouts]].

[[Image:Direction_Watch.jpg|thumb|220px|left|Specialized 24-hour watch with compass card dial]]

== Direction-findingUsing a standard watch ==

Using a standard 12-hour watch, such as a wristwatch, one's approximate bearings can be found as follows:

The photograph to the left shows a specialized 24-hour watch optimized for finding directions using the sun. With the watch set to indicate local time, the hour hand is pointed directly at the sun. North is indicated by the local noon position (In the Northern Hemisphere).

# Hold the watch with 12:00 pointedo'clock pointing towards your left.

# Rotate into position so that the hour armhand is pointing towards the sunSun.

# The point halfway between the hour armhand and 12:00 o'clock points towards the south.

During [[daylight saving time]], the same method forcan be employed substituting 11:00 holdso'clock for noon. There are also minor inaccuracies due to the difference between [[local time]] and zone time, and due to the [[equation of time]].

It is also possible to approximate one's bearings using an analogue watch. The method is as follows:

# Hold the watch with 12:00 pointed towards your left.

[[Image:Direction_Watch.jpg|thumb|220px|left|Specialized 24-hour watch with compass card dial]]

# Rotate into position so that the hour arm is pointing towards the sun.

# The point halfway between the hour arm and 12:00 points towards the south.

== Direction-finding watch ==

The photograph to the left shows a specialized 24-hour watch optimized for finding directions using the sunSun. With the watch set to indicate local time, the hour hand is pointedpoints directly at the sunSun. North is indicated by the local noon position (Inin the Northern Hemisphere).

During [[daylight saving time]], the same method for 11:00 holds. There are also minor inaccuracies due to the difference between [[local time]] and zone time and due to the [[equation of time]].

==See also==