In the absence of daylight, the stars become your best markers to navigate. They allow you to find the cardinal points if you know a few constellations.
In this article, learn how to use the Big Dipper, Cassiopeia, and the Southern Cross to find north in the Northern Hemisphere, and south in the Southern Hemisphere.
1. Find north with the Big Dipper and Cassiopeia
In the Northern Hemisphere, look for the Big Dipper, made up of 7 stars arranged in a dipper shape. Identify the two stars forming the edge opposite the handle, called the Guards.
Draw an imaginary line connecting these two stars and extend it five times their spacing upwards from the dipper: you will find the North Star, which indicates the north.
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If the Big Dipper is not visible, look for Cassiopeia, a group of five stars in the shape of a W. The central point of the W also points towards the North Star.
These two constellations rotate around the North Star, allowing you to identify it even when only one of the two is visible.
2. Finding south with the Southern Cross
In the Southern Hemisphere, there is no bright star marking exactly the celestial South Pole. However, the Southern Cross is an easily recognizable constellation, formed by four bright stars in an inclined cross.
Extend the long axis of the cross by about five times its length to reach an imaginary point located in the sky. Mentally lower a vertical line to the horizon from this point: you will obtain the direction of south.
Conclusion
Navigating with the stars is a valuable and accessible skill.
By learning to recognize some key constellations, you can find your direction at night, anywhere on the planet, without any equipment.
