Points of the compass

(Redirected from North-West)

The points of the compass are a set of horizontal,

radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in
navigation and cartography. A compass rose is primarily
composed of four cardinal directions—north, east, south,
and west—each separated by 90 degrees, and secondarily
divided by four ordinal (intercardinal) directions—
northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest—each
located halfway between two cardinal directions. Some
disciplines such as meteorology and navigation further
divide the compass with additional azimuths. Within
European tradition, a fully defined compass has 32 "points"
(and any finer subdivisions are described in fractions of
points).[1]

Compass points are valuable in that they allow a user to

refer to a specific azimuth in a colloquial fashion, without
having to compute or remember degrees.[2] 32-point compass rose

Designations
The names of the compass point directions follow these rules:

8-wind compass rose

The four cardinal directions are north (N), east (E), south (S), west
(W), at 90° angles on the compass rose.
The four intercardinal (or ordinal) directions are formed by bisecting
the above, giving: northeast (NE), southeast (SE), southwest (SW),
and northwest (NW). In English and many other tongues, these are
compound words. Different style guides for the four mandate spaces,
dashes, or none.
In Bulgarian, Catalan, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Esperanto,
French, Galician, German, Greek, Hungarian, Ido, Italian,
Japanese (usually), Macedonian, Norwegian (both Bokmal and
Nynorsk), Polish, Portuguese, Romansch, Russian, Serbian,
Croatian, Spanish, Swedish, Ukrainian, and Welsh the part
8-wind compass rose
meaning north or south precedes the part meaning east or west.[3]
In Chinese, Vietnamese, Gaelic, and less commonly Japanese,
the part meaning east or west precedes the other.
In Estonian, Finnish, Breton, the "Italianate system", and Telugu, the intercardinals have distinct
words.[3]
 The eight principal winds (or main winds) are the set union of the cardinals and intercardinals. Taken in
turn, each is 45° from the next. These form the 8-wind compass rose, the rose at its usual basic level
today.

16-wind compass rose

The eight half-winds are the direction points obtained by bisecting the angles between the principal winds.
The half-winds are north-northeast (NNE), east-northeast (ENE), east-southeast (ESE), south-southeast
(SSE), south-southwest (SSW), west-southwest (WSW), west-northwest (WNW), and north-northwest
(NNW). The name of each half-wind is constructed by combining the names of the principal winds to
either side, with the cardinal wind coming first and the intercardinal wind second.
The eight principal winds and the eight half-winds together form the 16-wind compass rose, with each
compass point at a 221⁄2° angle from its two neighbours.

32-wind compass rose

The sixteen quarter-winds are the direction points obtained by
bisecting the angles between the points on the 16-wind compass rose
(above). The quarter-winds are (in first quadrant) north by east (NbE),
northeast by north (NEbN), northeast by east (NEbE), and east by
north (EbN); (in second quadrant) east by south (EbS), southeast by
east (SEbE), southeast by south (SEbS), and south by east (SbE); (in
third quadrant) south by west (SbW), southwest by south (SWbS),
southwest by west (SWbW), and west by south (WbS); (in fourth
quadrant) west by north (WbN), northwest by west (NWbW),
northwest by north (NWbN), and north by west (NbW).[4][5]
All of the points in the 16-wind compass rose plus the sixteen quarter-
winds together form the 32-wind compass rose.
If breaking down for study/signalling the subcomponents are called 32-point compass rose
the "principal" followed by the "cardinal" wind/direction. As a
mnemonic (memory device), minds familiar encode the meaning of "X
by Y" as "one small measure from X towards Y". It can be noted such measure is 111⁄4°. So, for example,
"northeast by east" means "one quarter of the gap from NE towards E".
In summary, the 32-wind compass rose comes from the eight principal winds, eight half-winds, and sixteen
quarter-winds combined, with each compass point at an 111⁄4° angle from the next.

In the mariner's exercise of "boxing the compass", all thirty-two points of the compass are named in clockwise
order.[6]

Half- and quarter-points

By the middle of the 18th century, the 32-point system had been further
extended by using half- and quarter-points to give a total of 128
directions.[7] These fractional points are named by appending, for
1 1 3
example, 4 east, 2 east, or 4 east to the name of one of the 32 points. Each
of the 96 fractional points can be named in two ways, depending on which
3
of the two adjoining whole points is used, for example, N 4 E is equivalent
1
to NbE 4 N. Either form is easily understood, but alternative conventions
as to correct usage developed in different countries and organisations. "It
is the custom in the United States Navy to box from north and south
toward east and west, with the exception that divisions adjacent to a Compass rose from American
cardinal or inter-cardinal point are always referred to that point."[8] The Practical Navigator, 1916
Royal Navy used the additional "rule that quarter points were never read
from a point beginning and ending with the same letter."[9]
Compass roses very rarely named the fractional points and only showed small, unlabelled markers as a guide
for helmsmen.

128 compass directions

The table below shows how each of the 128 directions are named. The first two columns give the number of
points and degrees clockwise from north. The third gives the equivalent bearing to the nearest degree from
north or south towards east or west. The "CW" column gives the fractional-point bearings increasing in the
clockwise direction and "CCW" counterclockwise. The final three columns show three common naming
conventions: No "by" avoids the use of "by" with fractional points. Colour coding shows whether each of the
three naming systems matches the "CW" or "CCW" column.
 Naming of points on 128-point compass [show]

United States Navy Royal Navy

Points Degrees Bearing CW CCW No "by"
(USN) (RN)

0° 0′
0 N N
0″
1 2° 48′ 1 3 1
4 N 3° E N4E NbE 4 N N4E
45″
1 5° 37′ 1 1 1
2 N 6° E N2E NbE 2 N N2E
30″
3 8° 26′ 3 1 3
4 N 8° E N4E NbE 4 N N4E
15″

11° 15′
1 N 11° E NbE
0″
1 14° 3′ 1 3 1
14 N 14° E NbE 4 E NNE 4 N NbE 4 E
45″
1 16° 52′ 1 1 1
12 N 17° E NbE 2 E NNE 2 N NbE 2 E
30″

14
3 19° 41′ 3 1 3
N 20° E NbE 4 E NNE 4 N NbE 4 E
15″
22° 30′
2 N 23° E NNE
0″
1 25° 18′ 1 3 1
24 N 25° E NNE 4 E NEbN 4 N NNE 4 E
45″

22
1 28° 7′ 1 1 1
N 28° E NNE 2 E NEbN 2 N NNE 2 E
30″
3 30° 56′ 3 1 3
24 N 31° E NNE 4 E NEbN 4 N NNE 4 E
15″

33° 45′
3 N 34° E NEbN
0″

34
1 36° 33′ 1 3
N 37° E NEbN 4 E NE 4 N
45″
1 39° 22′ 1 1
32 N 39° E NEbN 2 E NE 2 N
30″
3 42° 11′ 3 1
34 N 42° E NEbN 4 E NE 4 N
15″
45° 0′
4 N 45° E NE
0″
1 47° 48′ 1 3 1
44 N 48° E NE 4 E NEbE 4 N NE 4 E
45″
1 50° 37′ 1 1 1
42 N 51° E NE 2 E NEbE 2 N NE 2 E
30″
3 53° 26′ 3 1 3
44 N 53° E NE 4 E NEbE 4 N NE 4 E
15″

56° 15′
5 N 56° E NEbE
0″
1 59° 3′ 1 3 1
54 N 59° E NEbE 4 E ENE 4 N NEbE 4 E
45″
1 61° 52′ 1 1 1
52 N 62° E NEbE 2 E ENE 2 N NEbE 2 E
30″
3 64° 41′ 3 1 3
54 N 65° E NEbE 4 E ENE 4 N NEbE 4 E
15″

67° 30′
6 N 68° E ENE
0″
 1 70° 18′ 1 3 1 3
64 N 70° E ENE 4 E EbN 4 N ENE 4 E EbN 4 N
45″
1 73° 7′ 1 1 1 1
62 N 73° E ENE 2 E EbN 2 N ENE 2 E EbN 2 N
30″
3 75° 56′ 3 1 3 1
64 N 76° E ENE 4 E EbN 4 N ENE 4 E EbN 4 N
15″

78° 45′
7 N 79° E EbN
0″
1 81° 33′ 1 3
74 N 82° E EbN 4 E E4N
45″
1 84° 22′ 1 1
72 N 84° E EbN 2 E E2N
30″
3 87° 11′ 3 1
74 N 87° E EbN 4 E E4N
15″
90° 0′
8 E E
0″
1 92° 48′ 1 3 1
84 S 87° E E4S EbS 4 E E4S
45″
1 95° 37′ 1 1 1
82 S 84° E E2S EbS 2 E E2S
30″
3 98° 26′ 3 1 3
84 S 82° E E4S EbS 4 E E4S
15″

101° 15′
9 S 79° E EbS
0″
1 104° 3′ 1 3 1
94 S 76° E EbS 4 S ESE 4 E EbS 4 S
45″
1 106° 52′ 1 1 1
92 S 73° E EbS 2 S ESE 2 E EbS 2 S
30″
3 109° 41′ 3 1 3
94 S 70° E EbS 4 S ESE 4 E EbS 4 S
15″

112° 30′
10 S 68° E ESE
0″
1 115° 18′ 1 3 1 3
10 4 S 65° E ESE 4 S SEbE 4 E ESE 4 S SEbE 4 E
45″
1 118° 7′ 1 1 1 1
10 2 S 62° E ESE 2 S SEbE 2 E ESE 2 S SEbE 2 E
30″

10 4
3 120° 56′ 3 1 3 1
S 59° E ESE 4 S SEbE 4 E ESE 4 S SEbE 4 E
15″
123° 45′
11 S 56° E SEbE
0″
1 126° 33′ 1 3
11 4 S 53° E SEbE 4 S SE 4 E
45″

11 2
1 129° 22′ 1 1
S 51° E SEbE 2 S SE 2 E
30″
3 132° 11′ 3 1
11 4 S 48° E SEbE 4 S SE 4 E
15″

135° 0′
12 S 45° E SE
0″

12 4
1 137° 48′ 1 3 1
S 42° E SE 4 S SEbS 4 E SE 4 S
45″
1 140° 37′ 1 1 1
12 2 S 39° E SE 2 S SEbS 2 E SE 2 S
30″
3 143° 26′ S 37° E 3 1 3
12 4 SE 4 S SEbS 4 E SE 4 S
 15″

146° 15′
13 S 34° E SEbS
0″
1 149° 3′ 1 3
13 4 S 31° E SEbS 4 S SSE 4 E
45″
1 151° 52′ 1 1
13 2 S 28° E SEbS 2 S SSE 2 E
30″

13 4
3 154° 41′ 3 1
S 25° E SEbS 4 S SSE 4 E
15″
157° 30′
14 S 23° E SSE
0″
1 160° 18′ 1 3 1 3
14 4 S 20° E SSE 4 S SbE 4 E SSE 4 S SbE 4 E
45″

14 2
1 163° 7′ 1 1 1 1
S 17° E SSE 2 S SbE 2 E SSE 2 S SbE 2 E
30″
3 165° 56′ 3 1 3 1
14 4 S 14° E SSE 4 S SbE 4 E SSE 4 S SbE 4 E
15″

168° 45′
15 S 11° E SbE
0″

15 4
1 171° 33′ 1 3
S 8° E SbE 4 S S4E
45″
1 174° 22′ 1 1
15 2 S 6° E SbE 2 S S2E
30″
3 177° 11′ 3 1
15 4 S 3° E SbE 4 S S4E
15″

180° 0′
16 S S
0″
1 182° 48′ 1 3 1
16 4 S 3° W S4W SbW 4 S S4W
45″
1 185° 37′ 1 1 1
16 2 S 6° W S2W SbW 2 S S2W
30″

16 4
3 188° 26′ 3 1 3
S 8° W S4W SbW 4 S S4W
15″
191° 15′
17 S 11° W SbW
0″
1 194° 3′ 1 3 1
17 4 S 14° W SbW 4 W SSW 4 S SbW 4 W
45″
1 196° 52′ 1 1 1
17 2 S 17° W SbW 2 W SSW 2 S SbW 2 W
30″
3 199° 41′ 3 1 3
17 4 S 20° W SbW 4 W SSW 4 S SbW 4 W
15″

202° 30′
18 S 23° W SSW
0″
1 205° 18′ 1 3 1
18 4 S 25° W SSW 4 W SWbS 4 S SSW 4 W
45″
1 208° 7′ 1 1 1
18 2 S 28° W SSW 2 W SWbS 2 S SSW 2 W
30″
3 210° 56′ 3 1 3
18 4 S 31° W SSW 4 W SWbS 4 S SSW 4 W
15″
213° 45′
19 S 34° W SWbS
0″
1 216° 33′ 1 3
19 4 S 37° W SWbS 4 W SW 4 S
45″
 1 219° 22′ 1 1
19 2 S 39° W SWbS 2 W SW 2 S
30″
3 222° 11′ 3 1
19 4 S 42° W SWbS 4 W SW 4 S
15″

225° 0′
20 S 45° W SW
0″
1 227° 48′ 1 3 1
20 4 S 48° W SW 4 W SWbW 4 S SW 4 W
45″
1 230° 37′ 1 1 1
20 2 S 51° W SW 2 W SWbW 2 S SW 2 W
30″
3 233° 26′ 3 1 3
20 4 S 53° W SW 4 W SWbW 4 S SW 4 W
15″

236° 15′
21 S 56° W SWbW
0″
1
1 239° 3′ SWbW 4 3 1
21 4 S 59° W WSW 4 S SWbW 4 W
45″ W
1
1 241° 52′ SWbW 2 1 1
21 2 S 62° W WSW 2 S SWbW 2 W
30″ W
3
3 244° 41′ SWbW 4 1 3
21 4 S 65° W WSW 4 S SWbW 4 W
15″ W

247° 30′
22 S 68° W WSW
0″
1 250° 18′ 1 3 1 3
22 4 S 70° W WSW 4 W WbS 4 S WSW 4 W WbS 4 S
45″
1 253° 7′ 1 1 1 1
22 2 S 73° W WSW 2 W WbS 2 S WSW 2 W WbS 2 S
30″
3 255° 56′ 3 1 3 1
22 4 S 76° W WSW 4 W WbS 4 S WSW 4 W WbS 4 S
15″

258° 45′
23 S 79° W WbS
0″
1 261° 33′ 1 3
23 4 S 82° W WbS 4 W W4S
45″
1 264° 22′ 1 1
23 2 S 84° W WbS 2 W W2S
30″
3 267° 11′ 3 1
23 4 S 87° W WbS 4 W W4S
15″
270° 0′
24 W W
0″
1 272° 48′ 1 3 1
24 4 N 87° W W4N WbN 4 W W4N
45″
1 275° 37′ 1 1 1
24 2 N 84° W W2N WbN 2 W W2N
30″
3 278° 26′ 3 1 3
24 4 N 82° W W4N WbN 4 W W4N
15″

281° 15′
25 N 79° W WbN
0″

25 4
1 284° 3′ 1 3 1
N 76° W WbN 4 N WNW 4 W WbN 4 N
45″
1 286° 52′ 1 1 1
25 2 N 73° W WbN 2 N WNW 2 W WbN 2 N
30″
3 289° 41′ 3 1 3
25 4 N 70° W WbN 4 N WNW 4 W WbN 4 N
15″
 292° 30′
26 N 68° W WNW
0″
3 1
1 295° 18′ 1 NWbW 4 WNW 4 3
26 4 N 65° W WNW 4 N NWbW 4 W
45″ W N
1 1
1 298° 7′ 1 NWbW 2 WNW 2 1
26 2 N 62° W WNW 2 N NWbW 2 W
30″ W N
1 3
3 300° 56′ 3 NWbW 4 WNW 4 1
26 4 N 59° W WNW 4 N NWbW 4 W
15″ W N
303° 45′
27 N 56° W NWbW
0″
1 306° 33′ 1 3
27 4 N 53° W NWbW 4 N NW 4 W
45″
1 309° 22′ 1 1
27 2 N 51° W NWbW 2 N NW 2 W
30″
3 312° 11′ 3 1
27 4 N 48° W NWbW 4 N NW 4 W
15″

315° 0′
28 N 45° W NW
0″
1 317° 48′ 1 3 1
28 4 N 42° W NW 4 N NWbN 4 W NW 4 N
45″
1 320° 37′ 1 1 1
28 2 N 39° W NW 2 N NWbN 2 W NW 2 N
30″
3 323° 26′ 3 1 3
28 4 N 37° W NW 4 N NWbN 4 W NW 4 N
15″
326° 15′
29 N 34° W NWbN
0″
1 329° 3′ 1 3
29 4 N 31° W NWbN 4 N NNW 4 W
45″
1 331° 52′ 1 1
29 2 N 28° W NWbN 2 N NNW 2 W
30″
3 334° 41′ 3 1
29 4 N 25° W NWbN 4 N NNW 4 W
15″

337° 30′
30 N 23° W NNW
0″
1 340° 18′ 1 3 1 3
30 4 N 20° W NNW 4 N NbW 4 W NNW 4 N NbW 4 W
45″
1 343° 7′ 1 1 1 1
30 2 N 17° W NNW 2 N NbW 2 W NNW 2 N NbW 2 W
30″
3 345° 56′ 3 1 3 1
30 4 N 14° W NNW 4 N NbW 4 W NNW 4 N NbW 4 W
15″

348° 45′
31 N 11° W NbW
0″
1 351° 33′ 1 3
31 4 N 8° W NbW 4 N N4W
45″
1 354° 22′ 1 1
31 2 N 6° W NbW 2 N N2W
30″

31 4
3 357° 11′ 3 1
N 3° W NbW 4 N N4W
15″
360° 0′
32 N N
0″

Traditional Mediterranean compass points

The traditional compass rose of eight winds (and its 16-wind and 32-wind derivatives) was invented by
seafarers in the Mediterranean Sea during the Middle Ages (with no obvious connection to the twelve
classical compass winds of the ancient Greeks and Romans). The traditional mariner's wind names were
expressed in Italian, or more precisely, the Italianate Mediterranean lingua franca common among sailors in
the 13th and 14th centuries, which was principally composed of Genoese (Ligurian), mixed with Venetian,
Sicilian, Provençal, Catalan, Greek, and Arabic terms from around the Mediterranean basin.

This Italianate patois was used to designate the

names of the principal winds on the compass
rose found in mariners' compasses and portolan
charts of the 14th and 15th centuries. The
"traditional" names of the eight principal winds
are:

(N) – Tramontana
(NE) – Greco (or Bora in some Venetian
sources)
(E) – Levante (sometimes Oriente)
(SE) – Scirocco (or Exaloc in Catalan)
(S) – Ostro (or Mezzogiorno in Venetian)
(SW) – Libeccio (or Garbino, Eissalot in
Provençal) 32-wind compass with traditional names (and traditional colour
code)
(W) – Ponente (or Zephyrus in Greek)
(NW) – Maestro (or Mistral in Provençal)
Local spelling variations are far more numerous than listed, e.g. Tramutana, Gregale, Grecho, Sirocco, Xaloc,
Lebeg, Libezo, Leveche, Mezzodi, Migjorn, Magistro, Mestre, etc. Traditional compass roses will typically
have the initials T, G, L, S, O, L, P, and M on the main points. Portolan charts also colour-coded the compass
winds: black for the eight principal winds, green for the eight half-winds, and red for the sixteen quarter-
winds.

Each half-wind name is simply a combination of the two principal winds that it bisects, with the shortest
name usually placed first, for example: NNE is "Greco-Tramontana"; ENE is "Greco-Levante"; SSE is "Ostro-
Scirocco", etc. The quarter winds are expressed with an Italian phrase, "Quarto di X verso Y" (pronounced
[ˈkwarto di X ˈvɛrso Y][10][11][12] one quarter from X towards Y), or "X al Y" (X to Y) or "X per Y" (X by Y).
There are no irregularities to trip over; the closest principal wind always comes first, the more distant one
second, for example: north-by-east is "Quarto di Tramontana verso Greco"; and northeast-by-north is
"Quarto di Greco verso Tramontana".

The table below shows how the 32 compass points are named. Each point has an angular range of 111⁄4
degrees where the azimuth midpoint is the horizontal angular direction (clockwise from north) of the given
compass bearing; minimum is the lower (counterclockwise) angular limit of the compass point; and
maximum is the upper (clockwise) angular limit of the compass point.
 Naming of points on traditional Mediterranean compass [show]
Azimuth
No. Compass point Abbreviation Traditional wind point
Minimum Midpoint Maximum
3 5
0 North N Tramontana 354 8 ° 0° 58°

5 1 7
1 North by east NbE Quarto di Tramontana verso Greco 58° 11 4 ° 16 8 °

7 1 1
2 North-northeast NNE Greco-Tramontana 16 8 ° 22 2 ° 28 8 °

1 3 3
3 Northeast by north NEbN Quarto di Greco verso Tramontana 28 8 ° 33 4 ° 39 8 °

3 5
4 Northeast NE Greco 39 8 ° 45° 50 8 °

5 1 7
5 Northeast by east NEbE Quarto di Greco verso Levante 50 8 ° 56 4 ° 61 8 °

7 1 1
6 East-northeast ENE Greco-Levante 61 8 ° 67 2 ° 73 8 °

1 3 3
7 East by north EbN Quarto di Levante verso Greco 73 8 ° 78 4 ° 84 8 °

3 5
8 East E Levante 84 8 ° 90° 95 8 °

5 1 7
9 East by south EbS Quarto di Levante verso Scirocco 95 8 ° 101 4 ° 106 8 °

7 1 1
10 East-southeast ESE Levante-Scirocco 106 8 ° 112 2 ° 118 8 °

1 3 3
11 Southeast by east SEbE Quarto di Scirocco verso Levante 118 8 ° 123 4 ° 129 8 °

3 5
12 Southeast SE Scirocco 129 8 ° 135° 140 8 °

5 1 7
13 Southeast by south SEbS Quarto di Scirocco verso Ostro 140 8 ° 146 4 ° 151 8 °

7 1 1
14 South-southeast SSE Ostro-Scirocco 151 8 ° 157 2 ° 163 8 °

1 3 3
15 South by east SbE Quarto di Ostro verso Scirocco 163 8 ° 168 4 ° 174 8 °

3 5
16 South S Ostro 174 8 ° 180° 185 8 °

5 1 7
17 South by west SbW Quarto di Ostro verso Libeccio 185 8 ° 191 4 ° 196 8 °

7 1 1
18 South-southwest SSW Ostro-Libeccio 196 8 ° 202 2 ° 208 8 °

1 3 3
19 Southwest by south SWbS Quarto di Libeccio verso Ostro 208 8 ° 213 4 ° 219 8 °

3 5
20 Southwest SW Libeccio 219 8 ° 225° 230 8 °

5 1 7
21 Southwest by west SWbW Quarto di Libeccio verso Ponente 230 8 ° 236 4 ° 241 8 °

7 1 1
22 West-southwest WSW Ponente-Libeccio 241 8 ° 247 2 ° 253 8 °

1 3 3
23 West by south WbS Quarto di Ponente verso Libeccio 253 8 ° 258 4 ° 264 8 °

3 5
24 West W Ponente 264 8 ° 270° 275 8 °

5 1 7
25 West by north WbN Quarto di Ponente verso Maestro 275 8 ° 281 4 ° 286 8 °

7 1 1
26 West-northwest WNW Maestro-Ponente 286 8 ° 292 2 ° 298 8 °
 1 3 3
27 Northwest by west NWbW Quarto di Maestro verso Ponente 298 8 ° 303 4 ° 309 8 °

3 5
28 Northwest NW Maestro 309 8 ° 315° 320 8 °

5 1 7
29 Northwest by north NWbN Quarto di Maestro verso Tramontana 320 8 ° 326 4 ° 331 8 °

7 1 1
30 North-northwest NNW Maestro-Tramontana 331 8 ° 337 2 ° 343 8 °

1 3 3
31 North by west NbW Quarto di Tramontana verso Maestro 343 8 ° 348 4 ° 354 8 °

3 5
32 North N Tramontana 354 8 ° 360° 58°

Chinese compass points

Navigation texts dating from the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties in China use a 24-pointed compass with
named directions. These are based on the twelve Earthly Branches, which also form the basis of the Chinese
zodiac. When a single direction is specified, it may be prefaced by the character 單 (meaning single) or 丹.

Headings mid-way in-between are compounds as in English. For

instance, 癸子 refers to the direction halfway between point 子 and
point 癸, or 71⁄2°. This technique is referred to as a double-needle (雙
針) compass.

Ming dynasty 24-pointed compass

 Point Ordinal Name Angle

子 zǐ north 0° or 360°

癸 guǐ 15°

丑 chǒu 30°

艮 gěn northeast 45°

寅 yín 60°

甲 jiǎ 75°

卯 mǎo east 90°

乙 yǐ 105°

辰 chén 120°

巽 xùn southeast 135°

巳 sì 150°

丙 bǐng 165°

午 wǔ south 180°

丁 dīng 195°

未 wèi 210°

坤 kūn southwest 225°

申 shēn 240°

庚 gēng 255°

酉 yǒu west 270°

辛 xīn 285°

戌 xū 300°

乾 qián northwest 315°

亥 hài 330°

壬 rén 345°

See also
Bearing (navigation)
Cardinal direction
Course (navigation)
Heading (navigation)
TVMDC
Wind rose
References
1. Evans, Frederick John, ed. (1859). "Notes on the Magnetism of Ships" (https://books.google.com/books?i
d=QPNAAAAAIAAJ&pg=RA2-PA50). Pamphlets on British shipping. 1785–1861. p. 8 (p. 433 of PDF).
ISBN 0-217-85167-3. "A deviation table having been formed by any of the processes now so generally
understood, either on the thirty-two points of the compass, the sixteen intermediate, or the eight principal
points"
2. Boardman, David (1983). Graphicacy and Geography Teaching. p. 41. "In particular they should learn that
wind direction is always stated as the direction from which, and not to which, the wind is blowing. Once
children have grasped these eight points they can learn the full sixteen points of the compass."
 3. See Wiktionary definitions: north; northeast; east; southeast; south; southwest; west; northwest
4. Webb Aintablian, Xanthe (June 28, 2018). "An Overview and History of the Compass" (https://www.thoug
htco.com/the-compass-instrument-1435002). thoughtco.com. Dotdash. Archived (https://web.archive.org/
web/20180706191612/https://www.thoughtco.com/the-compass-instrument-1435002) from the original on
July 6, 2018.
5. Lee, Robert E. (2011). "Compass Rose" (https://web.archive.org/web/20150221121147/http://staff.washin
gton.edu/rel2/geog100-UW/Scenarios/Rutters/Compass_Rose.html). University of Washington. Archived
from the original (http://staff.washington.edu/rel2/geog100-UW/Scenarios/Rutters/Compass_Rose.html)
on February 21, 2015.
6. George Payn Quackenbos A Natural Philosophy: Embracing the Most Recent Discoveries 1860
"Mentioning the mariner's compass: the points of the compass in their order is called boxing the compass.
— The compass box is suspended within a larger box by means of two brass hoops, or gimbals as they
are called, supported at opposite ..."
7. E. Chambers. Cyclopaedia: or, an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Science, 5th Ed, 1743, pp. 206–207,
"Points of the Compass, or Horizon, &c., in Geography and Navigation, are the points of division when the
whole circle, quite around, is divided into 32 equal parts. These points are therefore at the distance of the
1
32d part of the circuit, or 11° 15′, from each other; hence 5° 37 2 ′ is the distance of the half points and 2°
3
48 4 ′ is the distance of the quarter points.
8. Bowditch, Nathaniel (1916). American Practical Navigator: An Epitome of Navigation and Nautical
Astronomy (https://archive.org/details/americanpracnavi00bowdrich). United States Hydrographic Office.
p. 15 (https://archive.org/details/americanpracnavi00bowdrich/page/n22).
9. Kemp, Peter, ed. (1988). "Box the Compass". The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea (https://archiv
e.org/details/oxfordcompaniont00kemp/page/103). Oxford University Press. p. 103 (https://archive.org/det
ails/oxfordcompaniont00kemp/page/103). ISBN 0-19-282084-2.
10. "quarto" (http://www.wordreference.com/iten/quarto). WordReference.com. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
"English translation: fourth, quarter"
11. "di" (http://www.wordreference.com/iten/di). WordReference.com. Retrieved December 2, 2018. "English
translation: of, from..."
12. "verso" (http://www.wordreference.com/iten/verso). WordReference.com. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
"English translation: towards, toward, close to, near to"

External links
Wind Rose (archived) (https://web.archive.org/web/20090627090213/https://web.uflib.ufl.edu/cm/africana/
windrose.htm) – discusses the origins of the names for compass directions.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Points_of_the_compass&oldid=1218406810#Compass_point_names"