What is the difference between geographic and magnetic North?
Quick Answer: Geographic North is the fixed point at the Earth's axis where all lines of longitude meet. Magnetic North is the direction a compass needle points, influenced by Earth's magnetic field, and it moves over time.
Geographic North is the true north pole, the point around which the Earth spins. It’s a constant location used for maps and navigation.
Magnetic North is where your compass points. It shifts because Earth’s molten core creates a magnetic field that changes gradually. This means compass readings don’t always match true north exactly.
Understanding the difference helps with accurate navigation, especially when using a compass in the wild or for aviation and marine travel.