Navigation-Finding True North

How To Find True North: With Or Without A Compass
https://onlinebarracks.com/find-true-north/

  (SNIP) ... In this article, I am going to show you more than six methods that you can use to find true north without a compass.

I am also going to show you how to adjust your compass to find the true north just in case you want to use a compass.   ---CONTINUED---

How to Find North Without a Compass: Five Ways to Find True North
https://www.myopencountry.com/how-to-find-north-without-a-compass/

 Want to know how to find out which way is north?

You’re in the right place! In this guide, we will be covering the following:

       How to use sticks and shadow
       Using the night sky
       Using an analog watch

7 Ways To Find True North Without A Compass
https://survivallife.com/true-north-without-compass/

  If push comes to the shove and you need to find the true north without a compass, you must know how to do that to survive. We’ll tell you how today!

   1. Shadow-Tip Method
   2. Stars in the Northern Hemisphere
   3. Stars in the Southern Hemisphere
   4. Stars in the Equator
   5. A Watch in the Northern Hemisphere
   6. A Watch in the Southern Hemisphere
   7. Sun’s Direction

How to Find True North Without a Compass
https://www.wikihow.com/Find-True-North-Without-a-Compass

  If you're trying to find your way around in the wilderness and you don't have a compass, don't worry! There are ways to figure out which direction is true north during the day time and at night. By using the sun, shadows, and the stars, you won't have any trouble finding true north and heading in the right direction.   ---CONTINUED---

ReadyMom wrote:How To Find True North: With Or Without A Compass...

I am also going to show you how to adjust your compass to find the true north just in case you want to use a compass.   ---CONTINUED---

Good information.

I do recommend you always carry a compass, however, since the last two times I got (temporarily) lost, the sky was overcast. No stars, no moon, no sun, no shadows.

This may be handy on all the norths, three of them, true north, grid north and magnetic north.

https://getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/guides/a-tale-of-three-norths/

rick1 wrote:This may be handy on all the norths, three of them, true north, grid north and magnetic north.
https://getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/guides/a-tale-of-three-norths/

You are right. I am in the MidWest, where we usually ignore this, as it is only a couple degrees.

In other parts of the U.S. it can be pretty significant.
Here is another useful article on the subject:
https://www.timeanddate.com/geography/magnetic-declination.html

And this site (of course, it is where they sell compasses) has a map of how much you generally need to adjust.
https://www.thecompassstore.com/decvar.html

TRex2 wrote:

rick1 wrote:This may be handy on all the norths, three of them, true north, grid north and magnetic north.
https://getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/guides/a-tale-of-three-norths/

You are right. I am in the MidWest, where we usually ignore this, as it is only a couple degrees.

In other parts of the U.S. it can be pretty significant.
Here is another useful article on the subject:
https://www.timeanddate.com/geography/magnetic-declination.html

And this site (of course, it is where they sell compasses) has a map of how much you generally need to adjust.
https://www.thecompassstore.com/decvar.html

Your 100% correct TRex. Every topographical map I have seen/used, has the degree correction for north printed on the map so there would be no mistake when using it for that area.

rick1 wrote:

RE: True North v Grid North v Magnetic North

Your 100% correct TRex. Every topographical map I have seen/used, has the degree correction for north printed on the map so there would be no mistake when using it for that area.

It is good we discuss it, though. Some people might read this and not know what that little set of arrows on their map is for.

Everyone has a first time, learning this. Especially today. I meet people, now and then, who are surprised that I use a paper map, atlas, and globe. I maintain that there are just some things you don't see on a computer screen.