| ljubitelj gora13. 12. 2011 14:40:15 |
http://matjaz.skavt.net/Skavtstvo/ORIENTACIJA.htm
SUN: orientation with a watch. Hold the watch horizontally and rotate it until the hour hand points exactly towards the sun. Halve the angle between the direction to the sun and the direction through the 12 o'clock mark; this gives the south direction, with north behind your back. West and east are right and left, perpendicular to south-north.
MOON: the moon is Earth's satellite, rising in the east and setting in the west every day. Due to its slightly flattened elliptical orbit, we see the moon differently at different times. These shapes are called moon phases—first quarter, full moon (gibbous), last quarter, new moon. We can use the moon for orientation: full moon at 18:00 approx. E, at 24:00 S, at 6:00 W. First quarter at noon E, 18:00 S, 24:00 W. Last quarter at midnight E, 6:00 S, noon E. But at night it's better to orient by stars.
STARS: on clear nights, best orient by the North Star. First find the Big Dipper. This constellation circles the north celestial pole and never sets in our regions. Same for Polaris. As shown in the picture, extend the distance between the stars of the Big Dipper's rear axle five times to find the bright North Star, pointing exactly north.
ORIENTATION WITH THREE STICKS
Sounds crazy, but this method is most reliable, requires clear sky and lots of time. Plus, no special tools needed, just from nature.
Need one longer straight stick, two smaller sticks or stones, and something to draw a circle (shoelaces, belt, another long branch etc.).
Start in the morning, before noon. Closer to noon, less time needed.
Stick the long stick firmly in ground to stand vertical. Area must be flat. Now stick one small stick exactly where the shadow of the long stick ends. Tie string to long stick or use another to draw circle at distance to small stick (see picture), then wait until about an hour after noon.
Morning to noon, shadow shortens, then lengthens. At noon, shortest, points north. Hard to tell exactly. At end, shadow lengthens to touch circle. Then stick second small stick where shadow touches circle. Line between first and second stick is east-west.
Good to mark points regularly, any two equidistant from big stick or line between shows east-west. Useful if sky cloudy, can't mark all.
ORIENTATION WITH SUN
Here, sun daily at 6:00 AM east, 12:00 south, 18:00 west (southern hemisphere similar, but 12:00 north). If sun rises before 6 AM, few degrees north of east, at 6 exact east. If after 6, winter few degrees south of east, can't determine exact east.
Same for sunset. Sun at 9:00 SE, 15:00 SW. So noon exact south! Watch summer/winter time! Summer add hour, e.g. at twelve add one for DST.
Sky side Time Time
(winter time) (summer time)
-East - 6.00 - 7.00
-South -12.00 -13.00
-West - 18.00 - 19.00
-North Not seen! Sun below horizon
ORIENTATION WITH SUN AND WATCH
South direction surely if sunny and accurate watch. Place watch on palm horizontal, rotate till hour hand towards sun. Halve angle hour hand makes with 12. Line halving shows south when extended. Opposite north.
Examples:
At six sun exact east. Point hour hand to sun, halve to 12, get south.
6.00 AM
Similar at 9.00 ...
Same calc at 13.30 reliable …
WARNING! Like all sky calcs, watch winter/summer time. Summer use 1 (13.00) instead of 12!
ORIENTATION WITH NORTH STAR
Orienting by North Star on clear nights. This brightest star always north. Easiest with Big Dipper (Big Bear). Easy to spot, seven bright stars in cart shape (four wheels, spokes). Found it, connect rear two stars imaginary line, extend approx. five times. End is North Star. In Little Dipper (Little Bear), brightest is the one.
ORIENTATION BY MOON
Clear night, north direction also by Moon.
First quarter, lit half like D, rises around noon, 18.00 south.
Full Moon, full circle opposite sun, rises east after sunset, around midnight south, morning west.
Last quarter like C, rises midnight east, around six AM south.
New moon not seen.
ORIENTATION BY NATURAL FEATURES
When above fail, nature remains—what surrounds us, independent of weather/season. But direction not always accurate due terrain. Means deviations from wind, behind hill etc.
Ways:
• tree stumps (cut trees): annual rings (lines showing growth) tighter on north side, sparser south.
• moss: on north side of tree trunk usually more moss than south, but depends on moisture. Better check several trees.
• tree bark: besides mossier, north bark rougher, darker, often fungi, south smooth lighter.
• tree crowns: crowns usually bushier south than north.
• snow: snow melts faster south slopes, lasts longer north.
| (+1) |  | |
|
|