These markings are used in navigation and spatial orientation instruments such as the compass and the compass rose.
Cardinal points
Cardinal points are a geographic representation oriented by the sun. Every day the sun rises at the cardinal point that represents the east and sets at the opposite point, the west. Two other points are perpendicular (90°) to these points: north and south.
The 4 cardinal points are:
- N: North;
- S: South;
- L: East;
- The West.
The north-south axis is represented by the lines of the meridian and unites the terrestrial poles. The east-west axis follows the representation of the Equator Line.
Collateral Points
Collateral points are subdivisions of cardinal points, located between one cardinal point and another, forming an angle of 45º.
Collateral points are named after the junction between nearby cardinal points. The collateral points located between the cardinal points are:
- NE: Northeast - between North and East;
- SE: Southeast - between South and East;
- SW: Southwest - between South and West;
- NW: Northwest - between North and West.
Subcollateral Points
The subcollateral points are located equidistantly between the cardinal points and the collateral points (22.5º). Their names are made up by referring to the nearest cardinal point, followed by the collateral point.
There are 8 subcollateral points:
- NNE: north-northeast - between the north (N) and the northeast (NE);
- ENE: east-northeast - between east (E) and northeast (NE);
- ESE: east-southeast - between east (E) and southeast (SE);
- SSE: south-southeast - between the south (S) and the southeast (SE);
- SSO: south-southwest - between south (S) and southwest (SO);
- OSO: west-southwest - between west (W) and southwest (SO);
- WNO: west-northwest - between west (W) and northwest (NW)
- NNO: north-northwest - between north (N) and northwest (NW).
Wind rose
The Compass Rose is an instrument used for geographic location that shows the position of cardinal, collateral and subcollateral points.
- North (N) - 0º
- North-northeast (NNE) - 22.5º
- Northeast (NE) - 45º
- East-northeast (ENE) - 67.5º
- East (L) - 90º
- East-Southeast (ESE) - 112.5º
- Southeast (SE) - 135º
- South-southeast (SSE) - 157.5º
- South (S) - 180º
- South-Southwest (SSO) - 202.5º
- Southwest (SO) - 225º
- West-Southwest - 247.5º
- West (W) - 270º
- West-northwest (ONO) - 292.5º
- Northwest (NO) - 315º
- North-northwest (NNO) - 337.5º
See too:
- Cardinal points
- Wind rose
- Compass
- Geographical coordinates
