How to Use a Compass
By Ceci Moran
The explanation of a Compass
Parts of a Compass
The Earth's Magnetic Field
Step by Step By Using a Compass
2. Hold the compass correctly. Place the compass flat on your palm and your palm in front of your chest. This is the proper compass stance, when traveling. If you're consulting a map, place the map on a flat surface and place the compass on the map to get a more accurate reading.
3. Find out where your're facing. For a quick basic exercise to orient yourself, it's good to find out which of the direction you're currently facing or traveling. Look at the magnetic needle. It should swing off one side to the another, unless you're facing the North needle.
4. Understand the difference between "true" North and "magnetic" North. While it might seem confusing that there are kinds of "North", it's a basic distinction that you can learn quickly, and it's an essential piece of information to learn to use a compass properly.
5. Learn to correct for declination. The declination refers to the amount by which that the North on your map and North on your compass differ at any given point, given the Earth's magnetic field. To make the compass much easier, you can correct for the declination by either of adding or subtracting the declination of it's amount from your bearing in degrees, depending on whether if you're taking a bearing from a map or from your compass, and whether or not you're in an area with East declination or West declination.
6. Gather your bearings to find out which direction you're headed. When you're hiking around in the woods or in the fields, it's good to periodically check your bearings to make sure you're going in the direction you intend. To do this, move the compass until the direction of the travel arrow is pointing in the direction you're been traveling and you will continue traveling. Unless you're heading North, the magnetic needle will spin off to one side.
7. Continue moving in this direction. To do so, simply, hold the compass in the proper stance, turn your body until the North end of the magnetic needle once again aligns with the orienting needle, and follow the direction of travel arrow. Check your compass as often as you need to, but be sure not to accidentally twist the degree dial from its current position.
8. Focus on points in the distance. To accurately follow the direction of the travel arrow, look down at the arrow, then focus on a distant object like a tree, telephone pole, or other land mark and use this as a guide. Don't focus on anything distant, like a mountain, as huge object aren't precise enough to navigate by accurately. Once you reach each guide point, use your compass to find another.
9. Transpose the direction of travel onto on map. Place your map on a horizontal surface, then place the compass on the map so that the orienting arrow points to true North on the map. If you know that your current position on the map, slide your compass around so that its edge passes through your current position, but its orienting arrow continues to point North.
10. Learn to take a bearing from a map. To find out which direction you need to travel to get somewhere, place the map on a horizontal surface and place your compass on the map. Using the edge of the compass as a ruler, place it so that it creates a line between your current position and where you intend to go.
11. Use the new bearing to navigate. Hold the compass horizontally in front of you with the direction of travel arrow pointing away from you. Use this arrow to guide you to your destination. Turn your body until the North end of the magnetic needle is aligned with orienting needle, and you'll be properly oriented toward the destination on the map.
12. Choose three prominent landmarks that you can both see and find them on your map. One of the most difficult and advanced things you have to do with a know your exact location on the map. By the locating distinctive landmarks that you can see on your map, ideally as widely spread around your field of the view as possible, you can get yourself re-oriented.
13. Aim the direction of travel arrow at the first landmark. Unless the landmark is North of you, the magnetic, needle will spin off to one side. Twist the degree dial until the orienting arrow lines up with the North end of the Magnetic needle. Once this will tell you where your direction of travel arrow is pointing. The correct for declination, depending on your area.
14. Transpose the direction of the landmark onto your map. Place your map on the horizontal surface and then place the compass on the map so that the orienting arrow points to true North on the map. Then, you will slide your compass around so that it's edge passes through the landmark on the map, while the orienting arrow continues to point to the North.
15. Triangulate your position. Draw a line along the compass's edge and through your position. This is the first of the three lines and you will draw to find your position by forming a triangle with the other two landmarks.