The Compass Thing. Per the 2002 Burning Man Theme, The Floating World, the Man's pedestal is a lighthouse, patterned in plan after a compass circle, and the Black Rock City layout is keyed to navigation. Imagine the event space on the Black Rock Desert playa to be a flattened hemisphere, with the concentric space around the Man graduated in feet, and radial compass bearings based on a full circle of 360�. 0�/360� extends northeast from the Man, which faces southwest. Radial streets are spaced similar to the previous clock layout (one-half hour = 15�).
Radial Streets: | Width (ft) | Compass Orientation | Concentric Streets: | Distance from Man (ft) | Width (ft) | Block Length (15�) (ft) | Arc of One Degree (ft) | Arc of One Minute (in.) |
Promenade | (varies) | 45� | Esplanade | 2100 | 30 | 550 | 36.7 | 7-3/8 |
60� | 30 | 105� | Bowsprit | 2500 | 40 | 654 | 43.6 | 8-3/4 |
75� | 30 | 120� | Forecastle | 2700 | 30 | 707 | 47.1 | 9-1/2 |
90� | 30 | 135� | Mainmast | 2900 | 30 | 759 | 50.6 | 10-1/8 |
105� | 30 | 150� | Midships | 3100 | 30 | 812 | 54.1 | 10-7/8 |
120� | 30 | 165� | Mizzen | 3300 | 30 | 864 | 57.6 | 11-1/2 |
135� | 30 | 180� | Wheelhouse | 3500 | 30 | 916 | 61.1 | 12-1/4 |
150� | 30 | 195� | Fantail | 3700 | 30 | 969 | 64.6 | 12-7/8 |
165� | 40 | 210� | Abyss | 3900 | 40 | 1021 | 68.1 | 13-5/8 |
180� | 30 | 225� | ||||||
195� | 40 | 240� | ||||||
210� | 30 | 255� | ||||||
225� | 30 | 270� | ||||||
240� | 30 | 285� | ||||||
255� | 30 | 300� | ||||||
270� | 30 | 315� | ||||||
285� | 30 | 330� | ||||||
300� | 30 | 345� |
© Bob Stahl | Home