Convert Compass Points to Microradians

Convert Compass Points (pt) to Microradians (µrad) instantly and accurately.

Conversion Formula

µrad = pt × 196349.5408

About Compass Points

A compass point equals 1/32 of a full circle - π/16 rad ≈ 0.19635 rad (= 11.25°). Traditional maritime compasses divide the horizon into 32 named points from North clockwise back to North, each further divided into quarter-points (2.8125°). This 32-point rose was the standard for European seafaring from the 14th to 19th centuries. Modern navigation uses three-digit decimal bearings (000°-359°), but compass roses persist in meteorology and nautical heritage. 1 compass point = 11.25° = 11°15′ = 200 NATO mils.

About Microradians

A microradian (µrad) is one millionth of a radian (10⁻⁶ rad ≈ 0.206265 arcseconds). It is the standard unit for small angles in precision optics and structural monitoring. A 1 µm wavelength beam from a 1 mm aperture has a diffraction-limited half-angle divergence of ~1 µrad. Atmospheric seeing for ground-based telescopes is typically 2.4-9.7 µrad (0.5-2 arcseconds). Autocollimators resolve angular deviations to 0.05-1 µrad for machine tool alignment. Building tilt monitoring tracks µrad/day. 1 µrad ≈ 0.2063″ = 0.2063 arcseconds.

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