Natural Resources CanadaGovernment of Canada
Satellite image of CanadaCanada Centre for Remote Sensing 
Appendix B: Using a compass

A "compass rose" is an illustration such as the one on this page, showing the points of the compass.

The main directions: north, south, east, west are called the "cardinal points" of the compass.

Always look for the compass rose, or perhaps a "north arrow", to see in which direction an image is oriented. North isn't always to the top, although that is a popular convention.


2006-09-03
http://www.ccrs.nrcan.gc.ca/resource/tutor/planet/append_b_e.php