Navigation

The academically anemic infographic under discussion. Click for a larger image.

I've seen this infographic (at right) posted several times on the internet. My inner engineer couldn't help but to tinker with it and give it that little something extra[0].  I'll dial it up to '11' by making it useful without writing a dissertation on each subject. Here goes...

Navigation isn't about getting lost and then trying to figure out where you are.  (Although sometimes that happens.)

(source:mikou7kougou)

Navigation is about systematically using the tools at hand to track your location and to plan a route to your destination. Thus your brain is your most important navigational tool.

I was never happy with all of the books, videos and websites available to teach navigation so I created  this guide to cover the basics of each of the principle tools of navigation - map, compass, and GPS unit.

You don't have to read them in order but it  will make more sense if you do.

A decent compass is so inexpensive that everyone should own one.  But if for some reason you find yourself trying to locate north without a compass,  here are some techniques to get you pointed in the right direction.  I've organized them from most accurate to least accurate.  If two methods are equally accurate, then I have listed the easier one first.

1.) Locate the North Star.  This method will accurately show you true north but it only works at night , in the Northern Hemisphere and when you have a clear view of the sky.

(How to find The North Star - Click for larger image)

The North Star (also known as Polaris) is almost directly above the North Pole.  It is not the brightest star in the sky.  It appears to be about as bright as the two pointer stars in the Big Dipper.   Just follow the pointer stars and at about 5 times the distance between the two pointer stars you will find the North Star.  How high the North Star is in the sky depends upon your latitude.  If you are in Northern Alaska,  the North Star will appear almost over head.  If you are in the Florida Keys, the North Star will be much closer to the horizon.