Compass Rose

Last Updated (Sunday, 26 April 2009 19:55)

16 Point Compass Rose

The four main points of the compass are the Cardinal Points - (N)orth - (E)ast - (S)outh - (W)est

Between the cardinal points are the Half Cardinal Points of the compass, NE, SE, SW, NW.

Directions dividing cardinal and half cardinal points are called False Points; NNE, ENE, ESE, SSE, SSW, WSW, WNW, NNW.

Directions can further be divided into the by points, eg NbyE, SWbyS resulting in a 32 point compass rose.

Reciting the 32 points of the compass in order is known as 'boxing the compass'.

32	16	Compass point	Abbr.	True heading
1	1	North	N	0.00°
2		North by east	NbE	11.25°
3	2	North-northeast	NNE	22.50°
4		Northeast by north	NEbN	33.75°
5	3	Northeast	NE	45.00°
6		Northeast by east	NEbE	56.25°
7	4	East-northeast	ENE	67.50°
8		East by north	EbN	78.75°
9	5	East	E	90.00°
10		East by south	EbS	101.25°
11	6	East-southeast	ESE	112.50°
12		Southeast by east	SEbE	123.75°
13	7	Southeast	SE	135.00°
14		Southeast by south	SEbS	146.25°
15	8	South-southeast	SSE	157.50°
16		South by east	SbE	168.75°
17	9	South	S	180.00°
18		South by west	SbW	191.25°
19	10	South-southwest	SSW	202.50°
20		Southwest by south	SWbS	213.75°
21	11	Southwest	SW	225.00°
22		Southwest by west	SWbW	236.25°
23	12	West-southwest	WSW	247.50°
24		West by south	WbS	258.75°
25	13	West	W	270.00°
26		West by north	WbN	281.25°
27	14	West-northwest	WNW	292.50°
28		Northwest by west	NWbW	303.75°
29	15	Northwest	NW	315.00°
30		Northwest by north	NWbN	326.25°
31	16	North-northwest	NNW	337.50°
32		North by west	NbW	348.75°