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How to Tell Time Using the Solar System

When using the solar system to tell time, a few factors must be taken into consideration. First, you need to consider what month it is -- the stars aren't in the same position in the sky for the entire year, due to Earth's changing axis. Also take into account your location and daylight savings time. You will never use the same formula to calculate time in successive months, so using the solar system can be dangerous if you want to be on time for an appointment.

Instructions

- 1
  Locate the big dipper in the sky. It is characterized by the series of five stars at the bottom, which represent the handle and bottom of the scoop, and the two at the top, which represent the top of the scoop. The big dipper is relatively low to the horizon in the northern half of the sky.
- 2
  Look for the North Star, which nearly exactly lines up with the end of the Big Dipper's handle. You will know what direction to look because the North Star is fairly bright.
- 3
  Imaging an hour hand pointing from the North Star to the end of the Big Dipper. Directly in front of you in the sky represents 12 o'clock.
- 4
  View where the end of the handle on the Big Dipper lines up to the North Star. Add one hour for every month after March 7. The time should be within approximately 30 minutes.
- 5
  Note that the time will vary slightly depending on where you are on the planet. Remember where the time was 12 o'clock on March 7, to know how much time to add according to the month.
- 6
  Double the time. The clock is a 24-hour clock, so if you read 2:30, double it to 5:00. Subtract the time from 24. If you got 5 o'clock, subtract five from 24 to get 19:00 on the 24-hour clock, which is the equivalent to 7 p.m.
- 7
  Compensate for daylight savings time. Add one hour whenever you are in daylight savings time.

Astronomy