Find north without compass but your watch.

 by knarx
After I saw this I was quite excited by the simplicity of the way to find north. But in fact, it found the 15 minutes to wait bothersome.
So here, by the way Detective Conan used this way too, is 'my' way to find north easily without waiting 15 minutes. In fact you have to have at least a watch to find north THIS way. In the case it is an analogue watch - you are lucky time-saver. But though you know how to read an analogue watch, it will also work with a digital watch because you can somewhat imagine the needles of the analogue one.
 
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MicroKID says: Feb 22, 2010. 5:39 AM
For this to work, I assume you must have the correct time for the region you're in? :)
user0102939547874959 says: Sep 2, 2009. 5:55 PM
Very nice work time is a big factor in survival so theres 15 minutes you saved me from using the stick method. Thanks for this instructable.
zascecs says: May 9, 2009. 4:07 PM
I guess you save money this way; dont have to buy a compass! =)
anibalo says: Mar 2, 2009. 8:35 AM
This technique DOES also works for southern hemisphere, just have to align the sun with the 12 o'clock mark instead of the hour hand, the north-south line is still the middle angle between the hour hand and the 12 o'clock mark.
ongissim says: Jul 30, 2008. 3:20 PM
As an added note, this only works in the northern hemisphere.
knarx (author) in reply to ongissimJul 30, 2008. 3:27 PM
Yes, of course. I forgot to mention it.
leoleoleo in reply to knarxFeb 6, 2009. 5:44 PM
It does work in the Southern Hemisphere with a little tweaking. We point the '12' on the watch to the sun, then draw the line half way between that and the hour hand, and the line points to north.
wilsondesign says: Jul 31, 2008. 2:58 PM
this would work so easily with a 24 hour watch! or would it? i'd have to experiment
bruc33ef says: Jul 30, 2008. 10:26 PM
If you have a digital watch, just draw a clock face on a piece of paper with the correct time taken from the watch, then proceed as above.
knarx (author) in reply to bruc33efJul 31, 2008. 2:15 AM
As I mentioned in the intro.
ongissim says: Jul 30, 2008. 3:19 PM
I was just watching that DC episode earlier! (but I prefer to call it Case Closed)
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