Talk:Compass
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Are all compasses magnetic?
See Ralph Bagnold - it is possible to build a sun compass which, apparently, is not magnetic. Dietary Fiber
Any sundial will act as a compass won't it? My question is whether a lodestone and a compass are the same things. In Gulliver's Travels a lodestone was used to direct the floating island. You can't just say it was a compass. -Adrian
- Lodestone was historically used for compasses—it's a natural magnetic substance. Only later were other magnets discovered. --Simetrical 22:23, 3 Jan 2005 (UTC)
Soundings
- Prior to the introduction of the compass, wayfinding at sea was primarily done via celestial navigation, supplemented in some places by the use of soundings.
What kind of "soundings" are referred to in the article? None of the soundings listed in Wikipedia seem to be relevant. --Simetrical 22:30, 3 Jan 2005 (UTC)
- The primary meaning, taking depth measurements in the sea. In fact lead lines were also fitted with a hole that could be filled with tallow so that the nature of the sea bed could also be used as a means of navigation, but I don't know when this was first used. Billlion 22:59, 3 Jan 2005 (UTC)
Who picked up compasses from whom?
As of a week or two ago, the beginning of "History of the navigational compass" (written by Loren Rosen) read:
- Knowledge of the compass moved overland to Europe sometime later in the 12th century. Arab mariners apparently learned of it from the Europeans, adopting its use in the first half of the 13th century.
Anonymous user 130.209.6.40 changed this to read:
- Knowledge of the compass moved overland to through the Arab countries and then to Europe sometime later in the 12th century.
Which one is correct? —Simetrical 05:06, 30 Jan 2005 (UTC)
- Well I have found different opinions but this article [1] (http://www.solarnavigator.net/compass.htm) states
By the 10th century, the idea had been brought to Europe, probably from China, by Arab traders.
- but we could do with a more respectable historical reference! Billlion 05:55, 31 May 2005 (UTC)
Lensatic?
I've been shopping for a compass, and many are described as "lensatic compasses" -- in particular, all military compasses I've found. What is a "lensatic" compass? This should be added to the article.
- A lensatic compass has a lense (typically in the sight) so that when held to the eye to take a bearing you can read the dial. This is typically a military style field compass. If you get one maybe you could take a phot of it for the article. Billlion 05:45, 31 May 2005 (UTC)
