Where is 135 degrees on a compass

There is a magnetic needle that always points to the magnetic north pole and is usually painted red on the northern pointing end. Double check this first. I bought a compass once that pointed the opposite way painted wrong. Metal can affect the needle so make sure there is not any metal next to it such as a gun. The magnetic pole is not true north unless you happen to be in the middle of the country. Maps are oriented to true north and in northern Maine, there is an approximate 18 degree difference and that changes over time Figure 2.

A GPS will tell you the current declination for the area you are in. The declination is the difference between true north and magnetic north. The compass also has meridian lines or orienting lines to help with orientation on maps. The index line is used to line up the bearing you want to use. The ruler can be used to measure and calculate distances on maps. The Direction of Travel arrow is used to follow your azimuth in your direction of travel.

Figure 1 Figure 2. Navigating With a Compass. For correct readings, always hold the compass level so that the needle swings freely. Bend your elbows close to your side so the compass is steady. The compass should be at a height that allows you to take a line of sight reading on the degree dial and also allows you to turn the degree dial without unnecessary movement of the needle.

Do not move your head, but raise and lower your eyes. Stand away from metal objects. Determine the direction to be walked by checking your compass. Set the azimuth on the compass by turning the degree dial until the desired azimuth lines up with the direction-of-travel arrow.

While holding the compass in front of you, turn until the needle lines up with the orienting arrow. Sight along the edge of the baseplate toward a distant object.

Walk to the object without looking at the compass. When you arrive at the object check the accuracy of your walk. If you are not using maps, and are just using the compass to get in and out the woods, you don't have to worry about the declination.

You go in the woods at 0 degrees magnetic north and come back out on a bearing of degrees south. Not all roads are running east and west though. The road may be running in northeast to southwest direction. You must orient yourself on the road or point of departure. Point the travel arrow in the direction you want to go.

Now turn the rotating housing until the magnetic needle is in the orienting arrow and pointing north. Double check it is right. You now look at the degree number at the index line. Remember it. You may inadvertently move the dial off of your desired azimuth.

Find an object to aim at on your course and walk to that object tree, rock, etc. A back azimuth is calculated by adding degrees to the azimuth when it is less than degrees, or by subtracting degrees if the azimuth is more than degrees.

For example: If the azimuth is 45 degrees, add degrees to find the back azimuth. The back azimuth would be degrees. If the azimuth is degrees, subtract degrees. The back azimuth would be 90 degrees. Make sure the north pointing magnetic needle is in the proper place. Be careful. If you have the south end in the arrow end of the orienting arrow, you will go the wrong way.

Practice this in your yard or a small patch of woods you can't get lost in. Gain the confidence necessary to know that it works and then you will be ready to go into the unknown and know you can get back out.

I suggest that you have some sort of map like a topo map. The map can help you locate where you are if you become lost or confused. You can look at maps on Google Earth and see how long the road is you want to use or other features.

This applies for every adjacent pair of directions, so the midpoint between East 90 and South is Southeast at degrees. Remember to decline North first and then find midpoints, so you don't have to decline all eight directions. Read your compass by turning it until the N mark matches the direction of the needle, then rotate again to compensate for your declination.

Find the degree mark that points the way you're facing, and add up the degrees between this mark and the nearest of the eight directions; that's your orientation. Then find the nearest cardinal direction. Read your orientation, followed by the nearest cardinal direction, followed by the nearest of the eight directions. For example, say your orientation is degrees. The nearest of the eight directions is Southwest at degrees, which is five degrees lower, and the nearest cardinal direction is West.

Read this as 5 degrees West-Southwest. If your orientation had been degrees, you would read it as 5 degrees South-Southwest. The end of the needle that points North should be colored red, so make sure that the red tip rests on North when reading your compass.

Ben Beers began writing professionally in He has written content for Zemandi. He studied anthropology at Miami University before leaving to write professionally. Information About Compasses for Children. How to Find the Degrees in a Circle. How to Calculate Azimuth.

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