Comments on: LOST

By: Loreth

Loreth — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:21:56 +0000

Good question, Spy.

The thing to remember is the sun arcs east to west, so the swing of the shadow from the centre (original stick) will reflect that movement. (it will swing in the opposite direction from the sun’s arc)

But it shouldn’t matter, I don’t think, if you don’t wait too long for the sun to move. The shortest distance between the shadows (an acute angle in other words)will be the one between which you lay your marker stick. Then you stand heels against that stick with your back to the center(orginal) stick, and you will looking north.

LOL .. I’m not sure I’m making any sense. I shall try and articulate better …

By: spyscribbler

spyscribbler — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 02:36:57 +0000

That is COOL. Oh, man, can I use that?

But couldn’t you just as easy face South as North?

By: Loreth

Loreth — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 21:34:18 +0000

Let’s see if I get this right — you plant a stick upright into the earth, and mark the end of its shadow with another. Then you wait a while for the sun to move. The changed direction of the sun will cast a new shadow in another direction. Take a stick and line the end of that new shadow up with the end of the previous one, and that stick on the ground is now your West/East line. Stand with your heels against the stick, facing away, and you will be looking directly north.

Does that make sense?

By: spyscribbler

spyscribbler — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 23:36:06 +0000

With sticks and a sun? Will you tell us how? That’s cool!