Compass

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

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 usual 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°

Related pages

• Gyrocompass