The Compass
A compass is used to find direction and is based on a circle.
The four cardinal points cut the circle into quarters.
They are named North, East, South and West and are represented by the letters N, E, S, W.
Primary Inter‑Cardinal Points
These cut the circle into eighths.
They are named North East, South East, South West and North West.
They are represented by the letters NE, SE, SW, NW.
Secondary Inter‑Cardinal Points
These cut the circle into sixteenths.
They are named North North East, East North East, East South East, South South East, South South West, West South West, West North West and North North West.
NNE, ENE, ESE, SSE, SSW, WSW, WNW, NNW
Cardinal Buoys
Cardinal buoys tell mariners which way to pass safely.
Keep North of a North buoy, South of a South buoy, East of an East buoy and West of a West buoy.
Interactive Compass
Bearing: 000°
Bearings
Bearings are always measured from the North, in a clockwise direction.
Bearings always have three figures.
The bearing of one object from another is the angle between the line between the objects and the north line (N) through the first object.
Examples
F bears 055° from A
A bears 235° from F
A bears 305° from F
Using Bearings with Trigonometry
Interactive – Bearings Interactive – Bearings Navigator Interactive – Grid Map Journey Navigator Interactive – OS Style Grid Navigator
© Alexander Forrest