how do you find your way in the desert at night?

Answer 1

If you are in the Northern Hemisphere and it is clear out you can use the big dipper to find the North Star (off the outside of the "cup"). If you are in the southern Hemisphere I believe you can use the Southern Cross similarly (points north south).

If it is near sunrise or sunset and you know roughly what lattitude you are at and what season it is you can get a rought idea of East or West and therefore North and South (for instance if you face West, north is to your right).

Obviously if you have GPS or a compass that makes all this much easier (assuming your compass is lit ;) ).

If it is very clear out you can probably see the Milky Way, and the galactic plane runs roughly North South.

If you are familar with the night sky and know what time of year it is you could get a rough idea of your lattitude and maybe longitude, and, even if you can't find the North Star or Southern Cross you could find planets and the orbital plane or a familar constallation and figure out the directions.

Realistically if I didn't know where I was I would either go towards light if there was a bright part of the sky (city) or find a creek and fallow it since even if it is dried up, it is likely that it will lead you to a settled area or road and hopefully would have more shade from bushes and more food and water.

Answer 2

Go back the way you came. And what are you doing out in the desert at night, anyway?

Answer 3

By navigating with the North Star. Using a Compass! Or with a GPS!

Answer 4

Now days with a GPS unit. When I was in the Army we used a map but it was pretty hard.

Answer 5

By bringin with u a camel that could guide u in the night~!

Answer 6

GPS and compasses are great.......but if you don't have them with you....I hope you know how to navigate by the stars and I pray it's not overcast .....

Answer 7

you have to use a compass and the stars