The 360-degree scale on the compass card measures angles from which reference direction?

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Multiple Choice

The 360-degree scale on the compass card measures angles from which reference direction?

The 360-degree scale on a compass is anchored to magnetic north—the direction the needle points because of Earth's magnetic field. That makes Magnetic North pole the reference direction. Geographic north (the Earth's rotation axis) and true north are not what a magnetic compass uses, and celestial north points toward Polaris, which is unrelated to the compass scale. If you ever need a true heading from a magnetic reading, you’d adjust for magnetic declination to convert magnetic north to true north.

The 360-degree scale on a compass is anchored to magnetic north—the direction the needle points because of Earth's magnetic field. That makes Magnetic North pole the reference direction. Geographic north (the Earth's rotation axis) and true north are not what a magnetic compass uses, and celestial north points toward Polaris, which is unrelated to the compass scale. If you ever need a true heading from a magnetic reading, you’d adjust for magnetic declination to convert magnetic north to true north.

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