Reading Military Time
Military Time is the "international standard notation of time ISO 8601" in which the day runs from midnight to midnight and is divided into 24 hours. Military Time is indicated by the hours passed since the previous midnight, from 0 to 23.
Also called "railway time" or "continental time", this system is the most commonly used time notation in the world today.
ILLUSTRATION: different types of registers for Military Time.
Using Military Time as a Solar Compass
On sunny days, the Military Time sub-dial can conveniently be used as an approximate solar compass. The accuracy of measurements will depend on the difference between local Official Time and local True Solar Time.
Between the latitudes 15° North and 15° South, determining the orientation of the sun can prove difficult and render the operation impossible.
ILLUSTRATION: Solar Compass Navigation may prove difficult in zones situated between the 15th North parallel and the 15th South parallel.
Using the Solar Compass in Different Hemispheres
In the Northern Hemisphere
With the dial facing the sky, pointing the Military Time hand at the sun will align the whole dial with the Cardinal Directions North, East, South and West.
In the Southern Hemisphere
With the dial facing the sky, pointing the Military 12h mark at the sun will align the Military Time hand with the Cardinal Directions North, East, South and West.
ILLUSTRATION
Left: Solar Compass in the Northern hemisphere, the hand must be aligned with the sun.
Right: Solar Compass in the Southern hemisphere, the 12 H mark on the register must be aligned with the sun.
