compass point
Angleexact by definition
A compass point is exactly 1/32 of a full turn, 11.25 degrees. The traditional mariner's compass card is divided into 32 named points, from north through north by east, north-northeast and so on, and older logbooks record courses and wind directions in them rather than in degrees.
Watch out: Points were further subdivided into halves and quarters, giving 128 divisions and course notations like "NE by N ½ N". Modern practice uses degrees, and a course in points from an old log needs converting before it can be plotted on a modern chart.
| 1 | 11.25 |
Reciting all 32 points in order, clockwise from north, was called "boxing the compass" and was a standard test of a young seaman. The system persists in wind direction reporting, where forecasts still speak of a "northwesterly" rather than a bearing.
One compass point in every angle unit
| 40,500,000,000 | microarcsecond (μas) | |
| 40,500,000 | milliarcsecond (mas) | |
| 196,350 | microradian (μrad) | |
| 40,500 | arcsecond (″) | |
| 675 | arcminute (′) | |
| 200 | mil (NATO) (mil) | |
| 196.35 | milliradian (mrad) | |
| 12.5 | gradian (gon) | |
| 11.25 | degree (°) | |
| 1 | compass point (point)this unit | |
| 0.75 | hour angle (h) | |
| 0.19635 | radian (rad) | |
| 0.125 | quadrant (quad) | |
| 0.03125 | revolution (rev) |