Re: Northing

From: <Thane>
Date: Wed Oct 15 2003 - 07:31:00 EDT

A magnetic compass always points to magnetic North, which is not the same as true North (the North Pole). The difference between the two is 'variation', but that difference is not the same everywhere on the Earth. Most navigation charts used by ships have the variation stated on the chart. A 'gyrocompass' is used by most ships to practically eliminate errors between true and magnetic North. They are fairly expensive and electrically-powered, so a magnetic compass is always carried as a backup also.

• Sajit Viswan <sviswan@tebodin.co.om> wrote:
  > Does anyone know whether the direction shown by a compass is the
  > magnetic north or the geographic north. What is the offset angle and the
  > direction with respect to the other.
  >
  > Sajit Viswan
  >
  >
  

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