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

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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°
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References

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