What does “south of due west” mean?
I was solving an astronomy problem which said "south of due west."
This could be interpreted in two different ways and I don't know which one is correct. Is 'south of' in that phrase an idiom? Or does it mean southwest?
meaning phrase-meaning technical
edited 43 mins ago
SamBC
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asked 10 hours ago
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add a comment |
I was solving an astronomy problem which said "south of due west."
This could be interpreted in two different ways and I don't know which one is correct. Is 'south of' in that phrase an idiom? Or does it mean southwest?
meaning phrase-meaning technical
edited 43 mins ago
SamBC
5,600426
asked 10 hours ago
FafaFafa
133
New contributor
Fafa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Yes, it means "southwest". Just a bit to the south from the westerly direction.
– CowperKettle
10 hours ago
Well, it could be "West SouthWest" or "SouthWest" or "South SouthWest" as these are points on the compass, or it could be 269 degrees...
– Solar Mike
10 hours ago
Can you post more context?
– Acccumulation
6 hours ago
@CowperKettle Please don't post answers as comments. Your answer is wrong, but posting it as a comment prevents us from downvoting it and means that it appears above all the upvoted, correct answers, making it look more important than them.
– David Richerby
35 mins ago
add a comment |
I was solving an astronomy problem which said "south of due west."
This could be interpreted in two different ways and I don't know which one is correct. Is 'south of' in that phrase an idiom? Or does it mean southwest?
meaning phrase-meaning technical
edited 43 mins ago
SamBC
5,600426
asked 10 hours ago
FafaFafa
133
New contributor
Fafa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I was solving an astronomy problem which said "south of due west."
This could be interpreted in two different ways and I don't know which one is correct. Is 'south of' in that phrase an idiom? Or does it mean southwest?
meaning phrase-meaning technical
meaning phrase-meaning technical
edited 43 mins ago
SamBC
5,600426
asked 10 hours ago
FafaFafa
133
New contributor
Fafa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 43 mins ago
SamBC
5,600426
asked 10 hours ago
FafaFafa
133
New contributor
Fafa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 43 mins ago
SamBC
5,600426
edited 43 mins ago
SamBC
5,600426
edited 43 mins ago
SamBC
5,600426
5,600426
asked 10 hours ago
FafaFafa
133
New contributor
Fafa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 10 hours ago
FafaFafa
133
asked 10 hours ago
FafaFafa
133
133
New contributor
Fafa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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New contributor
Fafa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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Check out our Code of Conduct.
Yes, it means "southwest". Just a bit to the south from the westerly direction.
– CowperKettle
10 hours ago
Well, it could be "West SouthWest" or "SouthWest" or "South SouthWest" as these are points on the compass, or it could be 269 degrees...
– Solar Mike
10 hours ago
Can you post more context?
– Acccumulation
6 hours ago
@CowperKettle Please don't post answers as comments. Your answer is wrong, but posting it as a comment prevents us from downvoting it and means that it appears above all the upvoted, correct answers, making it look more important than them.
– David Richerby
35 mins ago
add a comment |
Yes, it means "southwest". Just a bit to the south from the westerly direction.
– CowperKettle
10 hours ago
Well, it could be "West SouthWest" or "SouthWest" or "South SouthWest" as these are points on the compass, or it could be 269 degrees...
– Solar Mike
10 hours ago
Can you post more context?
– Acccumulation
6 hours ago
@CowperKettle Please don't post answers as comments. Your answer is wrong, but posting it as a comment prevents us from downvoting it and means that it appears above all the upvoted, correct answers, making it look more important than them.
– David Richerby
35 mins ago
Yes, it means "southwest". Just a bit to the south from the westerly direction.
– CowperKettle
10 hours ago
Yes, it means "southwest". Just a bit to the south from the westerly direction.
– CowperKettle
10 hours ago
Well, it could be "West SouthWest" or "SouthWest" or "South SouthWest" as these are points on the compass, or it could be 269 degrees...
– Solar Mike
10 hours ago
Well, it could be "West SouthWest" or "SouthWest" or "South SouthWest" as these are points on the compass, or it could be 269 degrees...
– Solar Mike
10 hours ago
Can you post more context?
– Acccumulation
6 hours ago
Can you post more context?
– Acccumulation
6 hours ago
@CowperKettle Please don't post answers as comments. Your answer is wrong, but posting it as a comment prevents us from downvoting it and means that it appears above all the upvoted, correct answers, making it look more important than them.
– David Richerby
35 mins ago
@CowperKettle Please don't post answers as comments. Your answer is wrong, but posting it as a comment prevents us from downvoting it and means that it appears above all the upvoted, correct answers, making it look more important than them.
– David Richerby
35 mins ago
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
Look at a compass rose.
Look at W for west. Now move 'southwards', which is anticlockwise1 in this case, from the point for west. Somewhere in that region is "south of due west". You would expect it to be no nearer south than it is to west, as that would be "west of due south". Conventions vary, but I would tend to interpret "south of due west" WSW, or west-south-west, which is actually due west of south west. It might mean south-west, of course, or if you use a traditional mariner's compass (the compass rose of which has another degree of subdivision, for a total of 32 points), it might mean "west by south" (WbS), the point between W and WSW. Unless you have a clear idea of what the conventions of the text are, it could be any point anticlockwise of west and not anticlockwise of south-west.
1: In this case it is anticlockwise; 'southwards' from east would be clockwise.
answered 9 hours ago
SamBCSamBC
5,600426
There are more than 32 divisions on a compass...
– Solar Mike
9 hours ago
@SolarMike: I meant the traditional compass rose configurations; have clarified.
– SamBC
9 hours ago
2
Yes. Those 32 divisions are the "points". 3 points south of due west would be south-west by south. They later added half-points, so you could say "half a point west of south-west", and eventually quarter-points, giving 128 directions on the compass. I don't know if they've switched to using degrees nowadays; I know less about modern sailing than 19th century and earlier sailing.
– SamBC
9 hours ago
1
You may find figure 39 in this link illuminating, perhaps the whole thing... : zapatopi.net/kelvin/papers/…
– Solar Mike
9 hours ago
2
I'd interpret this as WbS (West by South ), i.e. 1/32 of a full circle anticlockwise from due west. This is (centred at) 258.75°. So if you're using a compass in degrees, ⪅ 260°. Or in practice start looking due west and shift a few degrees left, as it's easiest to find things if you know which side you're scanning from.
– Chris H
6 hours ago
|
show 6 more comments
Although it could technically be anywhere between W and S, I would interpret that as being significantly closer to W than S. Probably somewhere between W and WSW.
answered 6 hours ago
KevinKevin
3,7931219
add a comment |
A more precise expression would be something like "10° south of due west", which would be a heading of 260° (with 0° being due north, 90° due east, 180° due south, and 270° being due west). The less specific "(slightly) south of due west" would indicate a heading just slightly less than 270°, so essentially in a western direction, but a bit south-ish ...
answered 5 hours ago
Hagen von EitzenHagen von Eitzen
1345
add a comment |
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3 Answers
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Look at a compass rose.
Look at W for west. Now move 'southwards', which is anticlockwise1 in this case, from the point for west. Somewhere in that region is "south of due west". You would expect it to be no nearer south than it is to west, as that would be "west of due south". Conventions vary, but I would tend to interpret "south of due west" WSW, or west-south-west, which is actually due west of south west. It might mean south-west, of course, or if you use a traditional mariner's compass (the compass rose of which has another degree of subdivision, for a total of 32 points), it might mean "west by south" (WbS), the point between W and WSW. Unless you have a clear idea of what the conventions of the text are, it could be any point anticlockwise of west and not anticlockwise of south-west.
1: In this case it is anticlockwise; 'southwards' from east would be clockwise.
answered 9 hours ago
SamBCSamBC
5,600426
There are more than 32 divisions on a compass...
– Solar Mike
9 hours ago
@SolarMike: I meant the traditional compass rose configurations; have clarified.
– SamBC
9 hours ago
2
Yes. Those 32 divisions are the "points". 3 points south of due west would be south-west by south. They later added half-points, so you could say "half a point west of south-west", and eventually quarter-points, giving 128 directions on the compass. I don't know if they've switched to using degrees nowadays; I know less about modern sailing than 19th century and earlier sailing.
– SamBC
9 hours ago
1
You may find figure 39 in this link illuminating, perhaps the whole thing... : zapatopi.net/kelvin/papers/…
– Solar Mike
9 hours ago
2
I'd interpret this as WbS (West by South ), i.e. 1/32 of a full circle anticlockwise from due west. This is (centred at) 258.75°. So if you're using a compass in degrees, ⪅ 260°. Or in practice start looking due west and shift a few degrees left, as it's easiest to find things if you know which side you're scanning from.
– Chris H
6 hours ago
|
show 6 more comments
Look at a compass rose.
Look at W for west. Now move 'southwards', which is anticlockwise1 in this case, from the point for west. Somewhere in that region is "south of due west". You would expect it to be no nearer south than it is to west, as that would be "west of due south". Conventions vary, but I would tend to interpret "south of due west" WSW, or west-south-west, which is actually due west of south west. It might mean south-west, of course, or if you use a traditional mariner's compass (the compass rose of which has another degree of subdivision, for a total of 32 points), it might mean "west by south" (WbS), the point between W and WSW. Unless you have a clear idea of what the conventions of the text are, it could be any point anticlockwise of west and not anticlockwise of south-west.
1: In this case it is anticlockwise; 'southwards' from east would be clockwise.
answered 9 hours ago
SamBCSamBC
5,600426
There are more than 32 divisions on a compass...
– Solar Mike
9 hours ago
@SolarMike: I meant the traditional compass rose configurations; have clarified.
– SamBC
9 hours ago
2
Yes. Those 32 divisions are the "points". 3 points south of due west would be south-west by south. They later added half-points, so you could say "half a point west of south-west", and eventually quarter-points, giving 128 directions on the compass. I don't know if they've switched to using degrees nowadays; I know less about modern sailing than 19th century and earlier sailing.
– SamBC
9 hours ago
1
You may find figure 39 in this link illuminating, perhaps the whole thing... : zapatopi.net/kelvin/papers/…
– Solar Mike
9 hours ago
2
I'd interpret this as WbS (West by South ), i.e. 1/32 of a full circle anticlockwise from due west. This is (centred at) 258.75°. So if you're using a compass in degrees, ⪅ 260°. Or in practice start looking due west and shift a few degrees left, as it's easiest to find things if you know which side you're scanning from.
– Chris H
6 hours ago
|
show 6 more comments
Look at a compass rose.
Look at W for west. Now move 'southwards', which is anticlockwise1 in this case, from the point for west. Somewhere in that region is "south of due west". You would expect it to be no nearer south than it is to west, as that would be "west of due south". Conventions vary, but I would tend to interpret "south of due west" WSW, or west-south-west, which is actually due west of south west. It might mean south-west, of course, or if you use a traditional mariner's compass (the compass rose of which has another degree of subdivision, for a total of 32 points), it might mean "west by south" (WbS), the point between W and WSW. Unless you have a clear idea of what the conventions of the text are, it could be any point anticlockwise of west and not anticlockwise of south-west.
1: In this case it is anticlockwise; 'southwards' from east would be clockwise.
answered 9 hours ago
SamBCSamBC
5,600426
Look at a compass rose.
Look at W for west. Now move 'southwards', which is anticlockwise1 in this case, from the point for west. Somewhere in that region is "south of due west". You would expect it to be no nearer south than it is to west, as that would be "west of due south". Conventions vary, but I would tend to interpret "south of due west" WSW, or west-south-west, which is actually due west of south west. It might mean south-west, of course, or if you use a traditional mariner's compass (the compass rose of which has another degree of subdivision, for a total of 32 points), it might mean "west by south" (WbS), the point between W and WSW. Unless you have a clear idea of what the conventions of the text are, it could be any point anticlockwise of west and not anticlockwise of south-west.
1: In this case it is anticlockwise; 'southwards' from east would be clockwise.
answered 9 hours ago
SamBCSamBC
5,600426
edited 10 mins ago
answered 9 hours ago
SamBCSamBC
5,600426
answered 9 hours ago
SamBCSamBC
5,600426
answered 9 hours ago
SamBCSamBC
5,600426
5,600426
There are more than 32 divisions on a compass...
– Solar Mike
9 hours ago
@SolarMike: I meant the traditional compass rose configurations; have clarified.
– SamBC
9 hours ago
2
Yes. Those 32 divisions are the "points". 3 points south of due west would be south-west by south. They later added half-points, so you could say "half a point west of south-west", and eventually quarter-points, giving 128 directions on the compass. I don't know if they've switched to using degrees nowadays; I know less about modern sailing than 19th century and earlier sailing.
– SamBC
9 hours ago
1
You may find figure 39 in this link illuminating, perhaps the whole thing... : zapatopi.net/kelvin/papers/…
– Solar Mike
9 hours ago
2
I'd interpret this as WbS (West by South ), i.e. 1/32 of a full circle anticlockwise from due west. This is (centred at) 258.75°. So if you're using a compass in degrees, ⪅ 260°. Or in practice start looking due west and shift a few degrees left, as it's easiest to find things if you know which side you're scanning from.
– Chris H
6 hours ago
|
show 6 more comments
There are more than 32 divisions on a compass...
– Solar Mike
9 hours ago
@SolarMike: I meant the traditional compass rose configurations; have clarified.
– SamBC
9 hours ago
2
Yes. Those 32 divisions are the "points". 3 points south of due west would be south-west by south. They later added half-points, so you could say "half a point west of south-west", and eventually quarter-points, giving 128 directions on the compass. I don't know if they've switched to using degrees nowadays; I know less about modern sailing than 19th century and earlier sailing.
– SamBC
9 hours ago
1
You may find figure 39 in this link illuminating, perhaps the whole thing... : zapatopi.net/kelvin/papers/…
– Solar Mike
9 hours ago
2
I'd interpret this as WbS (West by South ), i.e. 1/32 of a full circle anticlockwise from due west. This is (centred at) 258.75°. So if you're using a compass in degrees, ⪅ 260°. Or in practice start looking due west and shift a few degrees left, as it's easiest to find things if you know which side you're scanning from.
– Chris H
6 hours ago
There are more than 32 divisions on a compass...
– Solar Mike
9 hours ago
There are more than 32 divisions on a compass...
– Solar Mike
9 hours ago
@SolarMike: I meant the traditional compass rose configurations; have clarified.
– SamBC
9 hours ago
@SolarMike: I meant the traditional compass rose configurations; have clarified.
– SamBC
9 hours ago
2
2
Yes. Those 32 divisions are the "points". 3 points south of due west would be south-west by south. They later added half-points, so you could say "half a point west of south-west", and eventually quarter-points, giving 128 directions on the compass. I don't know if they've switched to using degrees nowadays; I know less about modern sailing than 19th century and earlier sailing.
– SamBC
9 hours ago
Yes. Those 32 divisions are the "points". 3 points south of due west would be south-west by south. They later added half-points, so you could say "half a point west of south-west", and eventually quarter-points, giving 128 directions on the compass. I don't know if they've switched to using degrees nowadays; I know less about modern sailing than 19th century and earlier sailing.
– SamBC
9 hours ago
1
1
You may find figure 39 in this link illuminating, perhaps the whole thing... : zapatopi.net/kelvin/papers/…
– Solar Mike
9 hours ago
You may find figure 39 in this link illuminating, perhaps the whole thing... : zapatopi.net/kelvin/papers/…
– Solar Mike
9 hours ago
2
2
I'd interpret this as WbS (West by South ), i.e. 1/32 of a full circle anticlockwise from due west. This is (centred at) 258.75°. So if you're using a compass in degrees, ⪅ 260°. Or in practice start looking due west and shift a few degrees left, as it's easiest to find things if you know which side you're scanning from.
– Chris H
6 hours ago
I'd interpret this as WbS (West by South ), i.e. 1/32 of a full circle anticlockwise from due west. This is (centred at) 258.75°. So if you're using a compass in degrees, ⪅ 260°. Or in practice start looking due west and shift a few degrees left, as it's easiest to find things if you know which side you're scanning from.
– Chris H
6 hours ago
|
show 6 more comments
Although it could technically be anywhere between W and S, I would interpret that as being significantly closer to W than S. Probably somewhere between W and WSW.
answered 6 hours ago
KevinKevin
3,7931219
add a comment |
Although it could technically be anywhere between W and S, I would interpret that as being significantly closer to W than S. Probably somewhere between W and WSW.
answered 6 hours ago
KevinKevin
3,7931219
add a comment |
Although it could technically be anywhere between W and S, I would interpret that as being significantly closer to W than S. Probably somewhere between W and WSW.
answered 6 hours ago
KevinKevin
3,7931219
Although it could technically be anywhere between W and S, I would interpret that as being significantly closer to W than S. Probably somewhere between W and WSW.
answered 6 hours ago
KevinKevin
3,7931219
answered 6 hours ago
KevinKevin
3,7931219
answered 6 hours ago
KevinKevin
3,7931219
answered 6 hours ago
KevinKevin
3,7931219
3,7931219
add a comment |
add a comment |
A more precise expression would be something like "10° south of due west", which would be a heading of 260° (with 0° being due north, 90° due east, 180° due south, and 270° being due west). The less specific "(slightly) south of due west" would indicate a heading just slightly less than 270°, so essentially in a western direction, but a bit south-ish ...
answered 5 hours ago
Hagen von EitzenHagen von Eitzen
1345
add a comment |
A more precise expression would be something like "10° south of due west", which would be a heading of 260° (with 0° being due north, 90° due east, 180° due south, and 270° being due west). The less specific "(slightly) south of due west" would indicate a heading just slightly less than 270°, so essentially in a western direction, but a bit south-ish ...
answered 5 hours ago
Hagen von EitzenHagen von Eitzen
1345
add a comment |
A more precise expression would be something like "10° south of due west", which would be a heading of 260° (with 0° being due north, 90° due east, 180° due south, and 270° being due west). The less specific "(slightly) south of due west" would indicate a heading just slightly less than 270°, so essentially in a western direction, but a bit south-ish ...
answered 5 hours ago
Hagen von EitzenHagen von Eitzen
1345
A more precise expression would be something like "10° south of due west", which would be a heading of 260° (with 0° being due north, 90° due east, 180° due south, and 270° being due west). The less specific "(slightly) south of due west" would indicate a heading just slightly less than 270°, so essentially in a western direction, but a bit south-ish ...
answered 5 hours ago
Hagen von EitzenHagen von Eitzen
1345
answered 5 hours ago
Hagen von EitzenHagen von Eitzen
1345
answered 5 hours ago
Hagen von EitzenHagen von Eitzen
1345
answered 5 hours ago
Hagen von EitzenHagen von Eitzen
1345
1345
add a comment |
add a comment |
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Yes, it means "southwest". Just a bit to the south from the westerly direction.
– CowperKettle
10 hours ago
Well, it could be "West SouthWest" or "SouthWest" or "South SouthWest" as these are points on the compass, or it could be 269 degrees...
– Solar Mike
10 hours ago
Can you post more context?
– Acccumulation
6 hours ago
@CowperKettle Please don't post answers as comments. Your answer is wrong, but posting it as a comment prevents us from downvoting it and means that it appears above all the upvoted, correct answers, making it look more important than them.
– David Richerby
35 mins ago