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How to Judge Time to Sunset Using Your Fingers

This easy, low-tech method for estimating the time until sunset works best within a few hours of sunset. It won't be as accurate during midday, for example. At especially high latitudes, it will also tend to underestimate the time until sunset. In polar regions, for example, the sun could take longer to set than you would expect. Despite variations in arm length and hand size, this method is surprisingly accurate for many people. It's useful while hiking, camping or simply for planning an evening.

Instructions

- 1
  Hold your hand out at arm's length, parallel to the horizon. Your fingers should be pointing left or right, not up or down, with your palm facing you. For the purposes of this technique, measure based on the four fingers minus the thumb.
- 2
  Hold your hand so the bottom of it is perfectly in line with the horizon. Flip your hand up, then repeat, counting how many hand widths are between the horizon and the sun.
- 3
  Multiply the number of hand lengths by one hour. If the bottom of your hand is in line with the horizon and the top is against the sun, sunset should be in about an hour.
- 4
  Count with individual fingers for added accuracy. Each finger, held at arm's length, is equal to about fifteen minutes.

Nature