answersLogoWhite

0

from: http://www.compassdude.com/compass-reading.shtml

Basic Compass Reading == == * Hold your compass steadily in your hand so the baseplate is level and the direction-of-travel arrow is pointing straight away from you. * Hold it about halfway between your face and waist in a comfortable arm position with your elbow bent and compass held close to your stomache. * Look down at the compass and see where the needle points.This compass is pointing due North (also 0 degrees)

* Turn your body while keeping the compass right in front of you. * Notice that as the compass rotates, the needle stays pointing the same direction. * Keep turning until the needle points East like the picture below, keeping the direction-of-travel arrow and North mark facing straight in front of you.This compass is pointing East (90 degrees)

* Important: This is a very common mistake! The compass needle is pointing towards East so I must be pointing East, right? No, no, no!

To find my direction, I must turn the compass dial until the North mark and the "Orienting Arrow" are lined up with the North end of the needle. Then I can read the heading that is at the Index Pointer spot (the butt of the direction-of-travel arrow).

Since the Orienting Arrow is usually two parallel lines on the floor of the compass housing, a good thing to memorize is:

RED IN THE SHEDNow we know we are really heading West (270 degrees)

== == == == == == == == == == * You computer screen: ____________ degrees * Your window: ____________ degrees * Your door: ____________ degrees * A lightswitch: ____________ degrees == == == == * Hold the compass level - if the compass is tilted, the needle will touch the clear lid and not move correctly. * Read the correct end of the needle. * Use common sense, such as knowing that if you are heading anywhere towards the sun, there's no way you can be heading north, northwest, or northeast. * RED IN THE SHED! * Keep the compass away from metal objects - even a knife, flashlight, or keychain can cause a false reading if too close to the compass. Woody of North Woods, NJ

User Avatar

Wiki User

16y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

When was the invetion of the compass made?

According to some books that I have read, the compass i.e. magnetic compass was invented in 206 BC and that was used as device for divination by a Chinese person.


How did compasses change the world?

The compass impacted the world very hard from research the compass should be famous for it made the gps just from the compass easier to read is the compass it is about 99% out of a 100% percent correct. It is useful for traveling for anything that has a built in compass or a (gps).


What do compass rose do?

If a person is traveling they would need to know how to read a map, and what the symbols mean. The Compass Rose, is a compass. It gives a map reading direction, from where they currently are, to their end destination.


HOW COULD A COMPASS HELP YOU WERE LOST AT SEA?

Answer: If you have a map and you can read your coordinate from the sun and the stars the compass will tell you were north is then you will know in what direction to go to get to land.


How do you use a compass with lens?

To use a compass with a lens, hold the compass level and look through the lens to read the compass direction. The lens helps in magnifying the needle and making it easier to see the direction accurately. Ensure the compass is away from any metal objects or magnetic interference to get an accurate reading.


What three things help you read a map?

a map legend, a compass, and a map key=)


What is lubber's line on a magnetic compass?

The lubber's line on a magnetic compass is a reference mark or line that helps users keep the compass heading aligned with the direction they are traveling in. By keeping the lubber's line pointed in the desired direction of travel, users can easily read their heading on the compass.


How do you read compass coordinates accurately?

To read compass coordinates accurately, first identify the direction (north, south, east, west) and then the degree measurement. The degree measurement indicates the angle from the reference direction. For example, a coordinate of N 45 E means 45 degrees east of north. Use a compass to align with the reference direction and then turn to the specified angle to accurately read the coordinates.


What do compass rose mean?

If a person is traveling they would need to know how to read a map, and what the symbols mean. The Compass Rose, is a compass. It gives a map reading direction, from where they currently are, to their end destination.


What does a rose do?

If a person is traveling they would need to know how to read a map, and what the symbols mean. The Compass Rose, is a compass. It gives a map reading direction, from where they currently are, to their end destination.


How do you use a compass correction card?

First you read the compass. Then you find the correction for the heading closest to the heading the compass reads, interpolating if needed. Then you add the correction to the heading to get the corrected heading.For example, say the compass read 37 degrees and the correction card had a +2 correction for 30 degrees and a -1 correction for 60 degrees. You would interpolate a correction at 37 degrees of about +1, and add that to 37 to get a corrected magnetic heading of 38 degrees.


What are the parts of magnetic compass?

The main parts of a magnetic compass include the magnetic needle, which aligns with the Earth's magnetic field to indicate direction, and the compass housing, which protects the needle and contains the compass card with directional markings. There is also a lubber line, which is used to read the compass card, and a bezel ring for adjusting the compass heading.