bearing
Quick Summary
Taking compass bearings to known points—in this case, the headland (bearing 045°) and the buoy (bearing 120°)—enables the navigator to “fix” the vessel's current position at the intersection of the two bearings.
A bearing is a direction relative to north, used in navigation and surveying. Compasses are the primary tools for determining these directions.123
There are different types of bearings:
* Compass bearing: This is a direction indicated by a magnetic compass, relative to magnetic north.2
* True bearing: This is a direction relative to true north, which is the direction towards the geographic North Pole.45
* Magnetic bearing: This is a bearing relative to magnetic north.6
The Earth itself acts like a giant magnet, causing compass needles to align with its magnetic field. However, this field isn't perfectly aligned with the geographic poles, leading to inaccuracies known as variation or declination. Modern navigation also utilizes radio direction finders, which can determine bearings from radio transmitters, even in conditions like fog.31
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