A compass is a simple tool that has been around for thousands of years. We use its markings to figure out not just where we are, but where we are going. When aiming a satellite dish or antennas, we use compass headings to know exactly where to point. We’ll say, “point the antenna at 270 degrees.”
That’s great if you’re using a smartphone app that gives you exact numbers but what if you have one of these?
Our Classic Pocket Compass is an inexpensive way to get compass headings, but it isn’t as easy to read. Here’s a quick guide.
Turning around in a circle can be looked at as “going around 360 degrees.” In other words, as you spin, you could stop in any of 360 equally spaced points. If you’re facing north, we call that zero degrees. If you spin around halfway, we call that 180 degrees. and you’re facing south. Here’s how compass directions (like north) translate into numbers, called compass headings.
| North | 0 degrees |
| North-Northeast | 22.5 degrees |
| Northeast | 45 degrees |
| East-Northeast | 67.5 degrees |
| East | 90 degrees |
| East-SouthEast | 112.5 degrees |
| SouthEast | 135 degrees |
| South-Southeast | 157.5 degrees |
| South | 180 degrees |
| South-Southwest | 202.5 degrees |
| Southwest | 225 degrees |
| West-Southwest | 247.5 degrees |
| West | 270 degrees |
| West-Northwest | 292.5 degrees |
| Northwest | 315 degrees |
| North-Northwest | 337.5 degrees |
Here’s a picture if it’s easier for you to visualize it that way.
