Ten Things You Should Know About The Compass

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Ten Things You Should Know About The Compass

1)   The compass was probably invented in China during the Han Dynasty about 200 years B.C. , however , it was not used for navigation until the Song Dynasty in the 11th century . Its use in Western Europe has no record before the 13th century .

2)   The first compasses were made of lodestone . Lodestone is naturally magnetized iron ore . Later the compass was made with an iron needle that was magnetized by striking it to a piece of lodestone .

 

3)   For outdoor use in the wilderness , I will be describing the magnetic compass . A magnetic compass points to the magnetic North Pole , which is approximately 1000 miles from the true geographic North Pole .

 

4)   The angle formed between Magnetic North and True North is called Magnetic Declination and varies widely with geographic location . In North America , for instance , on the East Coast ( State of Maine ) magnetic declination can be up to 20 degrees west , in Florida , it can be Zero . On the West Coast , Vancouver , Pacific Region , Magnetic Declination will be as much as 23 degrees East . As shown by this chart , Magnetic Declination varies from place to place and with the passage of time .

Estimated declination contours by year, 1590 to 1990

5)   True North or Geodetic North is the direction on the Earth’s surface towards the geographic North Pole .

6)   North Pole is defined as the point in the Northern Hemisphere where the Earth’s axis of rotation meets its surface .

7)   For you to learn basic navigation , for outdoor and wilderness use in the Northern Hemisphere  , you will have to understand these 3 terms.They are True North , Magnetic North and Magnetic Declination .

8)   If you are new to compass navigation just follow these simple steps . Place the compass in front of you in a level position . Be certain that there are no ferrous metals near your compass because these will affect the compass’s magnetized needle . When your compass is Level and the needle has stopped moving , your compass needle is now pointing to MAGNETIC NORTH ( in the Northern Hemisphere ) . If you now travel by following the direction of the arrow you will be walking in a more or less Straight Line . This will ensure that you are not wandering in circles – and being lost !

 9)   If you are using a map , there will be a DECLINATION reading for this geographical area . Use this reading to orient your map properly .

10)  There many types of compasses used for many different purposes from forest and land navigation , marine navigation and even compass use in underground mining applications . Compass study can get very technical and complicated and this is not necessary for beginner navigation .

If you are a novice in wilderness navigation , all you need to remember that your Magnetic Compass is pointing to Magnetic North in the Northern Hemisphere . Your map points to True or Geographical North . The angle formed by these two factors is called magnetic Declination .

Please re-visit my website as I will be expanding this Compass Course to include Taking a Bearing and Orienteering . Your comments are always welcomed and I hope that these pages are easy for the novice to understand basic land and forest navigation .

 

Compass, Antique, Map Of The World

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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