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REMEMBER: NEVER LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN. GUESS AS TO WHERE THE SUN IS.
Anywhere in the U.S. (and most places worldwide), time can be told by using the sun. I've done it and been
accurate to within 15 minutes. While not close enough to run your day by, it's close enough to have some fun with, and confuse you friends and family as to how you knew the time. This is how to do it.
The sun roughly follows the same path all year. If you knew what time it was when the sun is at a certain point, then you could guess the time by the sun.
The sun always rises in the same general place all year. It's the same for the setting sun. About noon (one o'clock daylight savings time) the sun is directly south and at it's highest point. Since this gives you East/South/West directions of the sun, make a guess when the sun is between these points. Its not always very
accurate when you get close to the start of Summer and Winter, but it is still relatively close.
Once you get used to the constellations and when they should be where, you'll be able to tell time decently without this method, but until then try is out. When the moon is at a particular phase, it is at one point of the sky and a given time.
EXAMPLE: When the moon is at first quarter phase, it is always visible directly south at sunset. It also sets at midnight.
The full moon always rises at sunset and always sets at sunrise. The full moon is always due south at midnight.
The last quarter moon rises at midnight and sets at noon. It is due south at sunrise.
Look at the phase and it's spot in the sky and take a guess.
Use the same method with the sun as you did to find the time.
Early in the day, the sun is east. (low on the horizon)
In the middle of the day, it's south. (high in the sky)
Late in the day, the sun is west. (low on the horizon)
Again, use the moon and where you know it'll be.
Use the phases and the fact that when the moon is low, it's either east or west.
When the moon is high, the direction that the moon is in is south.
