Telling the approximate time with a minimal margin of error can be as simple as looking at the sky. By following these simple steps you can always have a backup plan for telling time without a clock or watch.
Know Your Place in the World
The position of the sun differs depending on your location. While people generally regard noon as the time when the sun is at the center of the sky, this may vary depending on location. Those near the border of their time zone may find that the sun reaches "high noon" a couple of hours before or after 12:00pm. That is why it is important to determine the approximate time the sun reaches the center of the sky where you are located. If the sun is not at the center of the sky at noon, you will have to consider the difference in the rest of your calculations.
Notable Changes with the Seasons
Now that you know what time the sun reaches the middle of the sky, the next step is to figure out what time the sun rises and sets. In her article posted on howstuffworks.com, Jessika Toothman explains that while the sun rises and sets at a slightly different time each day, an approximate prediction can be made for each individual season (January 2009, accessed May 2010). Following the spring daylight savings time and into the summer months the sun can be in the sky for more than 14 hours, whereas in the fall and winter it only lingers for as few as 10 hours or less. This will also vary depending on location, specifically with proximity to the equator.
Breaking the Path of the Sun into Sections
With your three points of reference — sunrise, sunset, and high-noon — determining the time is as simple as cutting a pie into even slices. Look at the sky and imagine the path of the sun from horizon to horizon. Knowing that the sun travels at a consistent rate, imagine the sun's path through the sky from where it rises to high noon to where it sets. Now break these sections into halves again and again until you have a basic sense of where the sun will be at each hour of daylight. Once you know what hour it is you can break the hours up further for a more accurate prediction of the approximate minute.
To double check your calculations count the hours in the sky based on the sections you made, from horizon to horizon, making sure the middle is still high-noon. There should be an equal amount of daylight hours before and after high noon.
Count from Sunrise, Countdown to Sunset
According to an ehow.com contributor with the alias Madplow360, during the first two and last two hours of the day there is a simple trick to find out the time without breaking up the sky into sections (December 2007, accessed May 2010). Simply extend a straight arm directly in front of you while bending your wrist so you can see the inside of your hand. Keeping your hand flat, align your little finger along the horizon directly below the sun. Now simply count how many fingers fit between the horizon and the sun, with each finger representing 15 minutes. With your other hand you can use a fist to represent an hour. This will tell you approximately how long it has been since sunrise or how long it will be until sunset.
Jared Lindzon - Jared Lindzon is a MA in Journalism Graduate from the University of Western Ontario. He has been published in The National Post, BlogTO, ...
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