What is the difference between north and due north?

Answer 1

There are two "norths" for most folks.

There is magnetic north (the direction to this varies, as you move east-to-west around the world, because it doesn't coincide with the actual "true" north).

There is also true north, which is the geographic location of the north pole (latitude 90 N).

When someone says "north", they mean in the general direction of increasing northern latitude, with less than a 25 degree swing to either east or west. The reason for the limiting angle is that the general direction would then become "northeast" or "northwest".

"Due north" is an incomplete statement, since it has to refer to the direct line to either true north or magnetic north. The correct way to state it would be "due true north" or "due magnetic north". Since most maps are drawn and aligned with a grid pattern that puts true north at the top (and magnetic north at some other angle), the person stating "due north" is generally referring to the direction of true north.

Answer 2

Due North

Answer 3

Land Surveyor here. Due means "exactly" in terms of cardinal directions. In order writings,8 out of 10, it was an indirect reference to "magnetic" which has a declination over time.

About 10 percent of the time, a reference to due north would be astronomic north, by star shot in older writings. This would be different than "grid north" which removes the convergence angle to Polaris by being parallel to some central longitude in a grid system.

Generally, "due" directions account for the system the rest of the directions were also measured in. This may be different in public land states or where specific land boundaries are defined by latitudes and/or longitudes. I survey in a colonial State.

Answer 4

due north is just a phrase some people use , there is true north , and magnetic north , which , magnetic north is off by 3 degrees from true north , to the west side of a compass .

Answer 5

When you look at a compass it reads magnetic north. True north being O or 360 degrees. The average deviation is 5 degrees or more depending on your location.

Answer 6

A "due" course is commonly referred to as "the crow flys" a direct course "due North" etc. By car you will never travel a "due" course, yet you will still end up North of where you began.

Answer 7

i am in the building industry and due north has no real meaning - probably due north is true north and magnetic north varies - maybe a surveyor can answer - we can maybe all learn something

Answer 8

"Due" just means exactly.

Glasgow is north of London, but it is not due north. If you went exactly north from London, you would not go through Glasgow.