On 21 May 2009 19:58:49 GMT, David <david@notthis.address> wrote:
>"::darkshadows::" <bat@cave.org> wrote in
>news:erda055heisu7572nb6r2dll508lpqbagg@4ax.com:
>
>>
>>
>>
>> Where does a compass really point?
>>
>> A compass in the Northern Hemisphere truely does point in a northerly
>> direction, but not to the North Pole. Instead, the compass points to
>> the North Magnetic Pole, which, as Sir James Clark Ross discovered in
>> 1831, is located at the northernmost point of the Artic coast of North
>> America. Similarly, a compass in the Southern hemisphere always points
>> to the South Magnetic Pole, which is firmly planted south of
>> Australia, in Antarctica.
>>
>> The different directions their compasses pointed, when traversing the
>> high-seas of the Northern Hemisphere, baffled ancient mariners. Their
>> modern counterparts understand, and compensate for, the differences in
>> the North Pole and the Northern Magnetic Pole, and chart their courses
>> accordingly. The differences in the poles proves minor, in comparison
>> to the tricks the Northern Magnetic Pole pulls from its home of
>> Boothia. The bane of boyscouts, as they attempt to navigate with, or
>> without, the benefit of their trusty compasses, is the fact that this
>> Pole chooses to roam about in a 20-mile circle, and to shift its
>> course between day and night.
>>
>> This 20-mile variance, however, is not one of global proportions.
>> Modern sea-farers compensate for the Northern Magnetic Pole's
>> perpetual motion, by using charts, and tools other than the compass.
>> All things considered, 20 miles is a minor measure for distant
>> travelers to take into account in adjusting their travel agenda.
>>
>> Thankfully, the Southern Magnetic Pole spares sailors the navigational
>> nightmare its Northern nemesis does. In the south, compass needles
>> actually do point true South, to the South Magnetic field.
>>
>
>Now you tell me that we have to have two compasses - one for North and the
>other for South magnetic pole.
>
>Why did you wait all these years to give me this news ?? I shall have to
>hand in all my flying licences as I am no longer compitent to navigate
>either side of the equator. Just as a matter of interest, which compass do
>I use when I am directly over the equator but flying East to West ?? An
>East and West magnetic pole too, perhaps ?? Maybe just the number you
>thought of first ??
>
>ds, you are leading TuTsTer astray!!!
>
>David
>
>
>
The point of the article is that the Magnetic North pole is not in a
fixed position as the Magnetic South Pole is.
darkshadows
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