This technique will tell you approximately how much daylight is remaining. Use this method on sunny days, with minimal or no clouds in the sky. If you cannot see the sun at all, you cannot track its position. Being aware of the approximate time of day might be helpful if you’re trying to estimate the time.
Either hand can work, but you may feel most comfortable starting with your dominant hand. Keep your thumb out of the way. Because thumbs are thicker and angled away from your fingers, they will ruin your timing.
Continue stacking one hand under the other until you reach the horizon.
For example, if you count 5 hands, then there are 5 hours remaining in the day or 5 hours until sunset.
For example, if you counted 4 hands and 2 fingers, then you have approximately 4. 5 hours left until sunset. Keep in mind that this will still only give you a rough estimate of the remaining time in a day.
Using a wooden board is ideal because it will hold up better against the elements and stay put even if it gets windy. Avoid using paper, foam, or other flimsy materials to make a sundial.
Make sure that the straw you use is big enough to fit over the head of the nail.
For example, you could place the sundial on a flat patch of lawn in your backyard.
For example, if it is 7:00 am, then write this next to the thumb tack. Then, come back an hour later, and mark the location of 8:00 am on the board. Continue until the sun sets and there is no longer a shadow to track. Keep in mind that the straw’s shadow will only be visible around half of the board and the length of the shadows will vary as the day goes on. [11] X Research source
Don’t move the sundial! It needs to stay in the same location to be accurate.
The Big Dipper is comprised of 7 stars shaped like a bowl with a handle. The 4 stars making up the bowl are shaped like a rhombus, with the 3 stars making the handle organized in a line to its left or right depending on the hemisphere you are in. The Big Dipper will be easier (or harder) to spot during some seasons, depending on your location. For example, it might be harder to spot the Big Dipper in the winter if you are in the Northern Hemisphere.
Keep in mind that an analog clock moves 30 degrees per hour, but a Polaris-focused clock will only move 15 degrees per hour and in the opposite direction of an analog clock.
For example, if the hand is pointing straight up from the North Star, then the raw time is midnight.
For example, if the Raw Time is 5 AM on May 2nd, you would use the equation Time = 5 - (2 X 2) to get 1 AM. This equation is not exact. The actual time may be anywhere within a half hour of your calculated time.
For example, if the time you calculated was 1:00 am, then adding 1 hour would make it 2:00 am.
For example, during a full moon, the moon will be visible in the sky all night (for approximately 12 hours). The moon will be harder to spot throughout the night when it is not full.
For example, if the sun set at 6:30 pm, and the moon is just now visible on the horizon, then it is approximately 7:30 pm.
For example, if the moon is ¼ of the way across the sky from where it rose, then it is about 3 hours past sundown. If the moon is halfway across the sky, then it is approximately 6 hours past sundown. If the moon is ¾ of the way across the sky, then it is 9 hours past sundown.
For example, if the sun set at 7:00 pm, and the moon in halfway across the sky, then the approximate time is 1:00 am. If the sun set at 6:15 pm, and the moon is ¾ of the way across the sky, then the approximate time is 3:15 am.
