The method of contiguity was that adopted by the ancient egyptians and the greeks ; it involved the observation of heliacal risings and settings , i.e.the risings and settings of stars near the ecliptic just before sunrise and just after sunset .

古埃及和古希腊人用的就是接近法；该方法观察恒星的偕日出和偕日没，也就是观测黄道附近的恒星在日出前或日没后瞬间的出没。