# How many ways to find North can we think of? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 24, 2019, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-ways-to-find-north-can-we-think-of/842251 "2019-10-24T19:05:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-ways-to-find-north-can-we-think-of/842251/41 "2019-10-25T14:50:09Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Put out a pan of reindeer food sprinkled with crushed candy cane bits, then listen for sleigh bells. Does that work if you’re not the first stop? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-ways-to-find-north-can-we-think-of/842251/42 "2019-10-25T14:55:44Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Does that work if you’re not the first stop? Of course it does. Little known fact: That sleigh is fast, but it’s the time machine at the North Pole that gets it done-they go to everyone’s house at the same time. _Everyone’s_ stop is the first stop. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-ways-to-find-north-can-we-think-of/842251/43 "2019-10-25T14:56:44Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Of course it does. Little known fact: That sleigh is fast, but it’s the time machine at the North Pole that gets it done-they go to everyone’s house at the same time. > _Everyone’s_ stop is the first stop. All right then. That method belongs in the handbook. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-ways-to-find-north-can-we-think-of/842251/44 "2019-10-25T16:16:21Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Buncha borealists… > > I’d find the South Pole the usual way using Crux and the Centaurus Pointers. Then it’d be in the opposite direction of that, through the Pointers in the other direction, since they’re basically at the same declination… Hey, my way works just as well if you’re slightly south of the Equator as it does if you’re slightly north. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-ways-to-find-north-can-we-think-of/842251/45 "2019-10-25T16:16:36Z")
Find a herd of cows or deer. Look at the predominant direction the herd is facing. That’s North. [Cite.](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2623809/Cows-point-north-thanks-to-in-built-compasses.html) No idea if it works for you Antipodean gits though… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Limmin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f04885/32.png) [@Limmin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Limmin)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-ways-to-find-north-can-we-think-of/842251/46 "2019-10-25T18:20:34Z")
For a while it seemed my dog, when doing her duty, would align herself in a particular direction such as North. Further observations revealed she aligned herself in a cardinal direction, sure, but not always the same one. I think she aligns herself with nearby roads or the walls of the house, which pretty much always are parallel with a cardinal direction. So a summary of what I’ve seen thus far… 1. Streets and roads are often in a NSEW grid, and depending on approximately which way your shadow points at noon, that aligns most closely with N if you’re in the northern hemisphere, or S if in the southern. 2. If in a city or county road system, the street numbers and names themselves often give you a clue. 3. Northern or southern constellations at night. Or, watch the rising or setting of the sun / moon / stars and deduce which way is E / W, then find North. 4. GPS 5. A compass needle 6. Ask someone 7. Natural landmarks (lakes, mountains), if visible, and if you know where they are supposed to be, give you your directions including N. 8. Natural features such as moss growing on the side of a tree that faces away from the sun, can tell you which way is N. 9. Similar to 1, cross reference the direction of your shadow and the time of day, and get an idea of which direction is which, including N. For example, at sunset, your shadow points E, no matter where you are on Earth, if it’s near or at the equinox (March 20 / Sep 20). (Excluding the poles, but if you’re at the North Pole already, do you really need to find which way is north? And if at the south pole, every direction is north.) Maybe the most difficult case is being on a round island just under the equator, sun overhead, on a cloudy day. But, just wait until the sun goes down, and the direction of maximum illumination is W. North is 90 degrees to the right of that. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-ways-to-find-north-can-we-think-of/842251/47 "2019-10-25T18:57:49Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Doesn’t work in Spain or France. Well, I checked and you’re right. My observation was an _everybody knows_ one, based on local experience - ignorance fought. In that case I would use the orientation of a church, which does appear to be east-west in France and Spain, with the altar at the east. So: is there a “rule” (or just a common practice) in France and Spain? I checked a couple of cemeteries in Seville\* and the orientation looked pretty random (or rather, just to fit the space available?). Several French cemeteries like [this one in Brittany](https://www.google.com/maps/@48.80188,-3.0318112,188m/data=!3m1!1e3) appear to have many graves aligned with the church, but plenty of others which are obviously not. It almost looks like no rules in Spain but a rule that has been abandoned in France. j - - By Google earth. These are just the most recent places in Spain and France that I visited - not a random choice but (in this context) unbiased. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-ways-to-find-north-can-we-think-of/842251/48 "2019-10-25T19:01:23Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Solar panels will be on roofs that point ‘mostly’ south (at least compared to the other pitches). It’s even better if you can find solar panels that aren’t on rooftops. Look for one on illuminated traffic signs, [street lamps](https://www.solarlightingitl.com/solar-street-lighting/), [security systems](https://www.roanoke.com/business/lot-cops-provide-eyes-and-speakers-in-the-sky-at/article_49065ccc-0bdc-500b-b172-a09c502e69e5.html), etc. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-ways-to-find-north-can-we-think-of/842251/49 "2019-10-25T19:11:49Z")
> [@Limmin](#): > > 1. GPS Strictly speaking, GPS doesn’t give you direction directly, it just gives you position & velocity. And most GPS receivers just display speed, not velocity. To determine direction from GPS, you need to mark the GPS location, move some distance, mark the GPS location again, and find out which direction you moved. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-ways-to-find-north-can-we-think-of/842251/50 "2019-10-25T19:18:04Z")
I know the OP said 1 method per poster, but my above two posts are details on methods already suggested. Here’s one that hasn’t been mentioned so far: [Skylight polarization.](https://www.polarization.com/compass/compass.html). By measuring the polarization of light from an overcast sky, you can determine where exactly the Sun is, which reduces the problem to “use the Sun” method. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-ways-to-find-north-can-we-think-of/842251/51 "2019-10-25T19:19:17Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > I’ll start with an urban one: a recent christian burial is oriented east-west, with the headstone at the west end of the grave. From this I can identify North. Related - it is common for the altars in Christian churches to face east (or generally east-ish). So, from there, you can get to north. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-ways-to-find-north-can-we-think-of/842251/52 "2019-10-25T19:27:32Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > I know the OP said 1 method per poster, but my above two posts are details on methods already suggested. Quick check of the rules and… OK, **scr4** , you’re fine. > [@scr4](#): > > Here’s one that hasn’t been mentioned so far: [Skylight polarization.](https://www.polarization.com/compass/compass.html). By measuring the polarization of light from an overcast sky, you can determine where exactly the Sun is, which reduces the problem to “use the Sun” method. That’s your one method, **scr4** - you’re still fine. Tho tell you what - we’re onto the second page and second day - I think at this stage we can say that if anyone wants to post multiple methods, go for it. Fill your boots! j ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-ways-to-find-north-can-we-think-of/842251/53 "2019-10-25T19:28:11Z")
> [@Civil\_Guy](#): > > In U.S. cities with regular grid streets, they’re mostly laid out north/south, east/west. The house numbering generally increases from some civic center. North will be the direction of North Broadway, say, that the house numbering is increasing. …Not a perfect system, no. In Philly where I grew up the grid (originally laid out by Wm. Penn) is off by something like 15 deg. But Montreal where I live is much worse. Generally, the St. Laurence River flows east/west and north will be roughly perpendicular to the river (not exact, but close). But right around Montreal Island it turns so that it is flowing close to north. Nonetheless, the direction perpendicular to the river is designated north while it is about 10 deg north of west. In my old house, nominally facing north, the setting sun on midsummer day would actually be coming in directly through the window if not slanting slightly to the right of that. I live right under the glide path for runway 6 so if I go 30 deg counter-clockwise from there I will find magnetic north. And that glide path is actually somewhat “south” (Montreal south, that is) from “east”. I understand the magnetic pole is wandering specially fast these days so we might see wholesale changes in runway designations. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-ways-to-find-north-can-we-think-of/842251/54 "2019-10-25T19:42:37Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > I know the OP said 1 method per poster, but my above two posts are details on methods already suggested. > > Here’s one that hasn’t been mentioned so far: [Skylight polarization.](https://www.polarization.com/compass/compass.html). By measuring the polarization of light from an overcast sky, you can determine where exactly the Sun is, which reduces the problem to “use the Sun” method. It seems only fair, then, that I do the same thing here. Your post set off something nagging inside of my brain, and eventually the memory came. Viking navigators, beset with the problem of cloudy northern skies, used some sort of crystal to focus the rays of the sun (or something like that) and thus determine direction. And here’s the real neat bit: when you type your query into google, you get as far as VIKING NAV - before it offers you, as second choice, **viking navigation crystal**. Here’s the wiki page, [Sunstone (medieval)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunstone_(medieval)) and it says: > [@](#): > > A theory exists that the sunstone had polarizing attributes and was used as a navigation instrument by seafarers in the Viking Age. How 'bout that? j ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-ways-to-find-north-can-we-think-of/842251/55 "2019-10-25T20:10:40Z")
Not mentioned so far: It only works seasonally, but you can look at the migration of birds, in the Northern Hemisphere, north in the spring, south in the fall. Also, this is a rule of thumb rather than a foolproof method. Topographic features, such as mountain ranges, large lakes, and coasts can affect the local direction of flight. Also, you need to make sure the birds are actually migrating, rather than flying to a local roost or feeding area. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-ways-to-find-north-can-we-think-of/842251/56 "2019-10-25T20:54:57Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Not mentioned so far: It only works seasonally, but you can look at the migration of birds, in the Northern Hemisphere, north in the spring, south in the fall. Also, this is a rule of thumb rather than a foolproof method. Topographic features, such as mountain ranges, large lakes, and coasts can affect the local direction of flight. Also, you need to make sure the birds are actually migrating, rather than flying to a local roost or feeding area. The most impressive display of migrating Canadian geese I ever saw was hours of wave after wave of Vs … going from east to west. Anyway, if you can track your own alpha-waves you might be genetically (or something) gifted and be able to [sense](https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/03/humans-other-animals-may-sense-earth-s-magnetic-field) the Earth’s magnetic field all by your lonesome. And waiting in the wings is proof that a [molecule](https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/03/humans-other-animals-may-sense-earth-s-magnetic-field) that we may have in our retinas can also detect magnetic fields. “I see field lines.” ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-ways-to-find-north-can-we-think-of/842251/57 "2019-10-25T21:16:14Z")
> [@F.U.Shakespeare](#): > > Also, _the higher the elevation angle_, the closer the dish is pointing towards the south\*. > > As noted above, this is harder to do in hilly terrain. It’s also been complicated by the increased use of offset feeds, which change the effective elevation angle of the dish. > \*The angle the dish is pointing above the horizon. Another caveat: not all parabolic dishes are communicating with satellites. Some are pointing to terrestrial receivers. They will generally be pointed low, at or near the horizon. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-ways-to-find-north-can-we-think-of/842251/58 "2019-10-25T21:36:41Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > The most impressive display of migrating Canadian geese I ever saw was hours of wave after wave of Vs … going from east to west… Nitpick: The name is Canada goose, not Canadian goose. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-ways-to-find-north-can-we-think-of/842251/59 "2019-10-25T21:39:45Z")
Drive directly into the sunset. Make a right turn into the pasture. Follow the migrating cows. There you are! ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2019, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-ways-to-find-north-can-we-think-of/842251/60 "2019-10-26T17:16:16Z")
If in the Northern US or Canada in winter months, when any method involving the sun is more difficult, look for Canadians with golf-clubs. If pasty-faced, but steady on their feet, they are travelling to Myrtle Beach- North is roughly opposite their direction of travel. If tanned, they are travelling away from Myrtle Beach. If pale and walking with difficulty, it was a short trip, but they are also heading away from Myrtle Beach. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-ways-to-find-north-can-we-think-of/842251.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-ways-to-find-north-can-we-think-of/842251.md?page=4)