How to navigate by the sun, stars and moon. Orientation by celestial objects Method of orientation by stars

Entries from the category "Orientation by the stars"

Orientation by the stars is one of the most reliable methods of orientation at night, since the stability of the position of the celestial bodies is very high and the accuracy of determining the cardinal directions using them often exceeds the accuracy of orientation using special instruments.

The North Pole Star is visible in the southern hemisphere, but only a short distance from the equator. In the middle and high latitudes of the southern hemisphere it can no longer be seen. The greater the distance from the equator, the higher you need to rise so that the horizon does not cover the star, so it can be observed in the mountains or from an airplane. At the same time, the southern hemisphere has its own polar star, pointing strictly south, but it is less noticeable in the night sky and is poorly suited for orientation.

Let's consider and refute the most common myths and misconceptions about the North Star:

1. The North Star and Venus are the same thing
2. Polaris is the brightest star in the sky
3. The North Star is located in the constellation Ursa Major
4. The North Star is visible from anywhere on the planet
5. The North Star points south

The North Star is located in the constellation Ursa Minor as close as possible to the Earth's rotation axis, due to which it points north with high accuracy, but it is easier to search for it using other constellations - Ursa Major, Cassiopeia, Cygnus...

1. What is the azimuth of the North Star?
2. Difference between true and magnetic azimuths
3. True azimuth of the direction to the North Star
4. The magnitude of the magnetic azimuth of the northern polarissima

1. All ways to find the North Star in the starry sky
2. How to find the North Star using the constellation Ursa Major?
3. Search by compass
4. Using a map to determine the direction to the North Star
5. Search using the constellation Cassiopeia
6. Using the constellation Cygnus
7. How to find the North Star by the constellation Orion?

1. Where does the North Star point?
2. Why is orientation using it more accurate than orientation using a compass?
3. How to determine the sides of the horizon by the North Star?
4. How to find the North Star in the starry sky?
5. Determining the latitude of the area using the North Star
6. When will navigating the North Star become too difficult?
7. How to determine the cardinal directions by the North Star in high latitudes (close to the North)?
8. Is there a south polar star?

At first glance, the night sky will seem like a chaotic collection of sparkling stars. But it was the stars and their constellations that, in ancient times, helped travelers and sailors navigate at night. You can navigate the starry sky of the northern hemisphere of the earth thanks to the polar star, which is located above the server pole.


The constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor will help you find the polar star in the night sky. Ursa Major is perhaps the most prominent and easily recognizable constellation in the sky, with the constellation's seven brightest stars forming a shape reminiscent of a ladle with a handle. The two extreme stars of the bucket, called Dubhe and Merak, are pointers to the polar star. If you draw an imaginary straight line from the star Merak through Dubhe and further, and then measure 5 segments equal to the distance between these two stars, then the last 5th segment will point to the North Star.


The North Star is part of the Ursa Minor constellation, and a perpendicular to the earth drawn from this star will show you the direction to the north. The North Star did not always point north. The earth rotates around an inclined axis, but the axis itself also moves. Over the course of thousands of years, its direction has changed. About 5,000 years ago, the northern polar star was Thuban (from the constellation Draco). Therefore, the north pole of the world gradually moves and can fall on different stars.

In order to successfully travel, and sometimes just to survive, you need to be able to navigate in unfamiliar terrain, at least according to the cardinal directions. There is not always a GPS or a compass, but there are always stars, sun and moon (except for those moments when these landmarks are hidden from us by clouds - but this is a temporary phenomenon). In this article you will learn how to navigate by the stars, sun and moon, and how to determine the cardinal directions with their help.

The compass appeared in the 11th century AD, and before that, travelers used exclusively celestial navigation. During the day they moved, guided by the sun, and at night they used the location of the stars and the moon. And in fact, it's not that difficult. An error in orientation by the sun, stars and moon of a degree or two is critical for modern navigation, but does not in any way interfere with orientation to the cardinal directions.

Orientation by the sun.

The simplest way to navigate by the sun.

It is necessary to remember which side the Sun was on when it began to move. If you have a watch, tracking the sun's shift and adjusting your route will not be difficult. If you don’t have a clock, you’ll have to connect an internal one. At rest stops, you can check the direction using a sundial, described below.

Orientation based on the Sun includes a number of techniques that require basic knowledge of geography and geometry. The well-known fact that the Sun in the northern hemisphere rises in the east and sets in the west is actually not entirely accurate. For example, in winter, sunrise tends to the southeast, and sunset to the southwest.

You can also use the sundial method.

You need to drive a stick into the ground and while you are resting, the sun will change its position in the sky. In this case, the sundial will work like a solar compass. By connecting the dots, an east-west arrow will be obtained, although the error may be about 10 degrees. The value of the error depends on the time of year and geographic location. Thus, you will get two cardinal directions - east and west, respectively, east on the right, west on the left, north at the top, south at the bottom. It's simple.

Don’t forget about the classics of orienteering: in the northern hemisphere, at noon in the summer, stand with your back to the Sun. North will be in front, east will be on the right, and west will be on the left. At other times of the day, it is best to use a wristwatch (mechanical).

Orientation by the clock and the Sun.

is carried out as follows: It is enough to point the hour hand towards the sun. The north-south line will be the bisector of the angle between the hour hand pointing towards the sun and the 1 o'clock line. In the first half of the day, the south will be to the right of the sun, and in the afternoon, on the contrary, to the left.

Thus, you can easily follow the direction of the route, guided by the sun, without using a compass or electronic assistants.

Orientation by the stars.

Orientation by stars in the northern hemisphere.

To navigate by the stars in the northern hemisphere, you must remember that the most important landmark in the night sky is the North Star. She is the only one who does not “roam” across the sky, while the rest of the stars and constellations change their location in the sky.

The North Star always points north, deviating only one and a half degrees during the night. The error is very small, so this landmark in the starry sky is extremely successful.

Some people believe that Polaris is the brightest star in the night sky, but this is not true. Yes, it is brighter than most, but Venus, which can easily be confused with a star, is much brighter than the North Star.

Before you find the North Star, you need to find the two most famous constellations in the sky - Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, the so-called “ladles”. In Ursa Major we need the two rightmost stars, forming, as it were, the “wall” of the bucket. We draw a straight line from the top star, equal to five distances from the two “outermost” stars of the Big Dipper and rest against the Polar Star, nestled in the handle of the Ursa Minor bucket.

Of course, it would be easier to immediately find the Little Dipper, but, as practice shows, the Big Dipper immediately catches the eye, but the Little Dipper is sometimes not very visible.

If the Big Dipper is hidden by clouds or dense vegetation prevents you from seeing it, the North Star can be found using the constellation Cassiopeia. This constellation, clearly visible against the background of the Milky Way, resembles the letter “M” or “W,” as you like. Polaris is located in a straight line to the left of the central star Cassiopeia.

So, when we found the North Star, determining the cardinal directions from the stars remains a matter of technology: when you look directly at the star, there will be east on the right side, west on the left, and south behind your back.

Orientation by stars in the southern hemisphere.

There is no North Star in the southern hemisphere, so navigation by the stars must be done using another constellation - the Southern Cross, which always points to the south pole. The Southern Cross is four bright stars arranged in the shape of a cross. It is important not to confuse it with the False Cross, which is located to the right; its stars are less bright and located further apart. In addition, to the left of the Southern Cross there are two guiding stars.

The direction to the south is determined by drawing an imaginary line through the vertical axis of the Southern Cross. Here we need those same guiding stars. Mentally draw a line between them, and draw a perpendicular from the center of this line. Where the lines emanating from the Southern Cross and the guiding stars intersect, the South Pole will be located.

There is another universal way to determine the direction by the stars.

You need to bury two sticks of different lengths in the ground. By the movement of any star, except Polaris, relative to these sticks, you can easily determine in which direction you are looking.

If the star rises up, you are looking east. If it goes down, you are looking west. If the star makes looping movements to the right, you are looking north, and if to the left, you are looking south.

This method shows only approximate directions and should be used only in the most extreme cases, when for one reason or another you cannot use the star orientation methods indicated above.

Orientation on the terrain using the moon.

Sometimes orientation by the moon is the only way to navigate by celestial bodies at night, for example, when there are clouds in the sky and only the position of the moon can be determined due to its brightness.

If the phases of the moon are known, determining the cardinal directions from the moon will not be difficult. The crescent of the waxing moon is located in the western part of the sky, the crescent of the waning moon is located in the eastern part. In the evening, the first quarter of the moon is on the southern side of the world. The full moon in the first hour of the day is on the south side. At 7 a.m. the third quarter is also in the south.

If suddenly you are caught at night in the middle of wild nature, the place to spend the night is not suitable, and you left your compass at home or broke it, then the ability to navigate by the stars will come in handy.

polar Star

The most important landmark in the night sky is the North Star. She is the only one who does not “travel” across the sky, while the rest of the stars and constellations change their location in the sky.

The North Star always points north, deviating only one and a half degrees during the night. This, of course, is essential for accurate navigation, but for a lost tourist it is not so important.

Before you find the North Star, you need to find the two most famous constellations in the sky - Ursa Major and Ursa Minor. In Ursa Major we need the two rightmost stars, forming, as it were, the “wall” of the bucket. We draw a straight line from the top star, equal to four distances from the two “outermost” stars of the Big Dipper and... we see the North Star nestled in the handle of the Ursa Minor bucket.

This type of orienteering appeared a long time ago, when there were no compasses and other tools. Star navigation is a good way to find north at night because you can't see the stars during the day. But you should immediately understand that this type of orientation may not always be correct, so it should be taken only as an auxiliary option.

The fact is that at different times of the year the stars behave slightly differently and, for example, in December the determination may turn out to be erroneous, when in March April you can find the right path. So, now we’ll tell you how to navigate by the stars on the ground if you are lost.

The easiest way

To find north, you need to find, first of all, polar star. She will show you north. In the picture below you will see that it is on end of the Ursa Minor dipper

Therefore, you first need to determine where this constellation is located. If you have difficulty with this, then look for Ursa Major and put on it the same paths as shown in the picture below. As shown in the picture - the path is about 5 times longer than the distance between the side Dubhe and Merak.

After this, you can easily find the North Star, which will point you to the north, and then you’ll probably figure it out.

Orientation by the moon

There is another way to navigate by the moon. Using the moon, you can determine the cardinal directions, but again, this should be done in conjunction with other methods. In the first quarter of summer, the moon is located in the South at 8 o'clock in the evening, and in the West at about two o'clock in the morning. If we take the end of summer, then from 8 o'clock in the morning - South, and around 2 o'clock in the morning - East. When you see the full moon, then determine the cardinal directions in the same way