Wristwatch Compass

July 24th, 2009

Do you have a crummy sense of direction? Don’t know north from sideways? Here’s a trick anyone can do with a wristwatch: Stand so the hour hand is aiming towards the sun. South is halfway between the hour hand and 12. (If you’re in the southern hemisphere, its north that’s halfway between the hour hand and 12.) Adjust for daylight savings time if necessary. If you attempt this with a digital watch, they’re no hope for you. Wander off in to the forest and call it a day.

Image Credit: Andros Amatakis.