The Compass Diagram

TERM

orienting arrow

DEFINITION

marked on the floor of the housing. It rotates with the housing when the dial is turned. You use it to orient a compass to a map

TERM

magnetic needle

DEFINITION

red needle on the compass that always points to magnetic north.

TERM

azimuth ring

DEFINITION

the rotating part of the compass that holds the damping fluid and the magnetic needle and has degrees engraved around its edge from 1 to 359

TERM

travel arrow/sighting line

DEFINITION

arrow on the compass base that indicates the place you want to go

TERM

declination scale

DEFINITION

part of the compass that sets the map declination

TERM

vial

DEFINITION

compass housing that contains the magnetic needle

TERM

compass base

DEFINITION

rectangular bottom part of the compass

TERM

protractor scale

DEFINITION

scale on the compass base