Compass

instrument used for navigation and orientation

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.

Liquid filled compass
A drawing compass

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

A compass rose, showing the usually directions labelled.
#Compass pointAbbr.Traditional wind pointLowestMiddleHighest
1NorthNTramontana0.00°5.62°
2North by eastNbEQto Tramontana verso Greco5.63°11.25°16.87°
3North-northeastNNEGreco-Tramontana16.88°22.50°28.12°
4Northeast by northNEbNQto Greco verso Tramontana28.13°33.75°39.37°
5NortheastNEGreco39.38°45.00°50.62°
6Northeast by eastNEbEQto Greco verso Levante50.63°56.25°61.87°
7East-northeastENEGreco-Levante61.88°67.50°73.12°
8East by northEbNQto Levante verso Greco73.13°78.75°84.37°
9EastELevante84.38°90.00°95.62°
10East by southEbSQto Levante verso Scirocco95.63°101.25°106.87°
11East-southeastESELevante-Scirocco106.88°112.50°118.12°
12Southeast by eastSEbEQto Scirocco verso Levante118.13°123.75°129.37°
13SoutheastSEScirocco129.38°135.00°140.62°
14Southeast by southSEbSQto Scirocco verso Ostro140.63°146.25°151.87°
15South-southeastSSEOstro-Scirocco151.88°157.50°163.12°
16South by eastSbEQto Ostro verso Scirocco163.13°168.75°174.37°
17SouthSOstro174.38°180.00°185.62°
18South by westSbWQto Ostro verso Libeccio185.63°191.25°196.87°
19South-southwestSSWOstro-Libeccio196.88°202.50°208.12°
20Southwest by southSWbSQto Libeccio verso Ostro208.13°213.75°219.37°
21SouthwestSWLibeccio219.38°225.00°230.62°
22Southwest by westSWbWQto Libeccio verso Ponente230.63°236.25°241.87°
23West-southwestWSWPonente-Libeccio241.88°247.50°253.12°
24West by southWbSQto Ponente verso Libeccio253.13°258.75°264.37°
25WestWPonente264.38°270.00°275.62°
26West by northWbNQto Ponente verso Maestro275.63°281.25°286.87°
27West-northwestWNWMaestro-Ponente286.88°292.50°298.12°
28Northwest by westNWbWQto Maestro verso Ponente298.13°303.75°309.37°
29NorthwestNWMaestro309.38°315.00°320.62°
30Northwest by northNWbNQto Maestro verso Tramontana320.63°326.25°331.87°
31North-northwestNNWMaestro-Tramontana331.88°337.50°343.12°
32North by westNbWQto Tramontana verso Maestro343.13°348.75°354.37°
1NorthNTramontana354.38°360.00°

Related pages

References