Compass
A compass is a navigational tool that uses magnetism. It has an arrow which points in the direction of the North Magnetic Pole. or other places where there are few landmarks.
The first compass was invented by ancient Chinese in the Han Dynasty. It was a large spoon-like magnetic object made of magnetite ore set upon a square bronze plate.[1]
Directions
| # | Compass point | Abbr. | Traditional wind point | Lowest | Middle | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North | N | Tramontana | 0.00° | 5.62° | |
| 2 | North by east | NbE | Qto Tramontana verso Greco | 5.63° | 11.25° | 16.87° |
| 3 | North-northeast | NNE | Greco-Tramontana | 16.88° | 22.50° | 28.12° |
| 4 | Northeast by north | NEbN | Qto Greco verso Tramontana | 28.13° | 33.75° | 39.37° |
| 5 | Northeast | NE | Greco | 39.38° | 45.00° | 50.62° |
| 6 | Northeast by east | NEbE | Qto Greco verso Levante | 50.63° | 56.25° | 61.87° |
| 7 | East-northeast | ENE | Greco-Levante | 61.88° | 67.50° | 73.12° |
| 8 | East by north | EbN | Qto Levante verso Greco | 73.13° | 78.75° | 84.37° |
| 9 | East | E | Levante | 84.38° | 90.00° | 95.62° |
| 10 | East by south | EbS | Qto Levante verso Scirocco | 95.63° | 101.25° | 106.87° |
| 11 | East-southeast | ESE | Levante-Scirocco | 106.88° | 112.50° | 118.12° |
| 12 | Southeast by east | SEbE | Qto Scirocco verso Levante | 118.13° | 123.75° | 129.37° |
| 13 | Southeast | SE | Scirocco | 129.38° | 135.00° | 140.62° |
| 14 | Southeast by south | SEbS | Qto Scirocco verso Ostro | 140.63° | 146.25° | 151.87° |
| 15 | South-southeast | SSE | Ostro-Scirocco | 151.88° | 157.50° | 163.12° |
| 16 | South by east | SbE | Qto Ostro verso Scirocco | 163.13° | 168.75° | 174.37° |
| 17 | South | S | Ostro | 174.38° | 180.00° | 185.62° |
| 18 | South by west | SbW | Qto Ostro verso Libeccio | 185.63° | 191.25° | 196.87° |
| 19 | South-southwest | SSW | Ostro-Libeccio | 196.88° | 202.50° | 208.12° |
| 20 | Southwest by south | SWbS | Qto Libeccio verso Ostro | 208.13° | 213.75° | 219.37° |
| 21 | Southwest | SW | Libeccio | 219.38° | 225.00° | 230.62° |
| 22 | Southwest by west | SWbW | Qto Libeccio verso Ponente | 230.63° | 236.25° | 241.87° |
| 23 | West-southwest | WSW | Ponente-Libeccio | 241.88° | 247.50° | 253.12° |
| 24 | West by south | WbS | Qto Ponente verso Libeccio | 253.13° | 258.75° | 264.37° |
| 25 | West | W | Ponente | 264.38° | 270.00° | 275.62° |
| 26 | West by north | WbN | Qto Ponente verso Maestro | 275.63° | 281.25° | 286.87° |
| 27 | West-northwest | WNW | Maestro-Ponente | 286.88° | 292.50° | 298.12° |
| 28 | Northwest by west | NWbW | Qto Maestro verso Ponente | 298.13° | 303.75° | 309.37° |
| 29 | Northwest | NW | Maestro | 309.38° | 315.00° | 320.62° |
| 30 | Northwest by north | NWbN | Qto Maestro verso Tramontana | 320.63° | 326.25° | 331.87° |
| 31 | North-northwest | NNW | Maestro-Tramontana | 331.88° | 337.50° | 343.12° |
| 32 | North by west | NbW | Qto Tramontana verso Maestro | 343.13° | 348.75° | 354.37° |
| 1 | North | N | Tramontana | 354.38° | 360.00° |
CompassDirections Media
A modern military compass, with included sight device for aligning
Model of a lodestone compass from Han dynasty
A liquid-filled protractor or orienteering compass with lanyard
Cammenga air filled lensatic compass
A close up photo of a geological compass
The dipping effect causes compass card to lead in a northerly turning error (fig. A) and lag in a southerly turning error (fig. B).
- Compassesorienteering
3-axis electronic magnetometer AKM8975 by AKM Semiconductor
A standard Brunton Geo, used commonly by geologists
Wrist compass of the Soviet Army with counterclockwise double graduation: 60° (like a watch) and 360°
