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Compass Degrees

Instead of saying NNW, you can be much more precise with your directions if you use degrees. There are 360 degrees in a full circle, so the compass reads from 0º to 360º.

If you start from facing North, and turn in a clockwise direction round to the East, you have turned 90º (or a quarter turn).

If you carry on to face South, turning in a clockwise direction, you have turned 180º (or a half turn).

Now keep turning in a clockwise direction, and you have turned 270º, or three quarter turns.

One more turn, and you have turned a full circle, and are back facing North again. You have turned 360º. (You can call North 360º, or 0º).

It is easy to work out the degrees that correspond to NE, SW etc. Just find the number halfway between the other points.

It is far more accurate to use degrees than to use the points of the compass, and that is why when you are sailing, or flying, or orienteering, you give your direction in degrees.

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