One of the most primitive ways of orientation was carried out through the observation of stars and stars, over a long time travelers used this device frequently, the main references were the Sun, the Moon and the stars. However, the location was not accurate as provided by modern orienteering instruments.
Large urban centers are regionalized into zones, for example, west, south, north, east zones. There is a simple way of orientation that does not require the use of any type of instrument, it is the observation of the position of the sun, it serves to be situated in the city, in the field or in the forests.
It is possible to orient yourself without having guidance instruments such as compass, GPS, maps, among others. The person must know in which direction the sun rises (east). From there it is possible to position the right arm towards the sun, the front of the person corresponds to the north, automatically the south is behind and, consequently, the west is in the direction of the left arm, in which the sun sets .
The orientation carried out through the observation of the stars is widespread among people from the countryside, fishermen and navigators, who generally know the general characteristics of the sky during the night, however, there are differences between the hemispheres in relation to the constellations. In the northern hemisphere, orientation occurs through the constellation Polaris and in the southern hemisphere, through the Southern Cross.
Don’t stop now… There’s more after the publicity 馃槈
By Eduardo de Freitas
Graduated in Geography