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.

This article is about the navigational tool. For the drawing tool, see Compass (drafting).
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 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°

References
  1. "Smith College Museum of Ancient Inventions: Compass".
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