Bearing
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Definition
A bearing is the horizontal direction of travel or of a target, measured clockwise in degrees from north (0°/360°), with east at 90°, south at 180°, and west at 270°.
Explanation
Bearings are used in navigation, surveying, and military operations to communicate direction unambiguously. A 'true bearing' references geographic north, while a 'magnetic bearing' references magnetic north, which differ by the local magnetic declination. Sailors and pilots routinely correct between the two: in eastern North America, magnetic north lies roughly 10–15° west of true north.
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