32 points
They are known as points. North, South, East and West are cardinal points. Commonly the compass is divided into 32 equally spaced points.
The number of points will depend upon the type of compass rose you have. The most simplistic compass rose has four points, while the most common is the eight-pointed compass rose. However, there are some with 16- and 32-points.
The magnetic compass was invented in Ancient China. the maritime type came out around the time of Columbus, with the time honored 32 points .
4 Basic (Cardinal) Points of a Compass
The compass rose has appeared on charts and maps since the 1300's, the term comes from the figure's compass points that represent the petals of a rose. It was first used to indicate the direction of the wind and was known as a 'wind rose'. The 32 points on the compass came from the direction of the winds.
what do you call the points of a compass
I do not have the least of all idea's "who dicided the points of the compass?... do you?
The Chinese compass points south. But the modern compass points north.
The North and South points on a compass rose are the longest.
The cardinal points of the compass are North, East, South and West. Another name for them is the cardinal directions.
Compass