You can measure the remaining daylight using your hand with a method that’s quite handy for estimating the amount of daylight left before sunset.
Here’s a simple guide on how to do it:
Find the Horizon: Stand with your back to the sun and look towards the horizon.
Extend Your Arm: Stretch your arm out in front of you, keeping it straight.
Use Your Fingers: Place your hand horizontally, with your fingers spread apart. The idea is to use your fingers as a rough measurement of how much daylight is left.
Count Finger Widths: Each finger width (from the tip of one finger to the tip of the next) is roughly equivalent to about 15 minutes of daylight. Here’s how it works:
One finger width: Approximately 15 minutes.
Two finger widths: About 30 minutes.
Three finger widths: Around 45 minutes.
Four finger widths: Roughly an hour.
To measure this, place the bottom edge of your hand on the horizon where the sun is about to set. Count how many finger widths are between the bottom of the sun and the horizon. Each width represents roughly 15 minutes of daylight left.
This method is a rough estimate but can be surprisingly effective in giving you a quick idea of how much time you have left before sunset.
