2007-05-25 02:34:17 · 8 answers · asked by box778899 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Presently Polaris is the true north.This is the north we use on our maps.
The magnetic north does not coincide with Polaris north. its only an aproximation to true north. The magnetic north changes continueously ;we can say its a dynamic north.
2007-05-25 02:44:25 · answer #1 · answered by goring 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Neither - it's close to both but it moves around.
It physically has no relationship to either magnetic or true north as it is a star far from being able to be affected by the Earth's magnetic field or it's rotational axis (which are what actually determine magnetic and true north respectively.)
We (or more accurately, early navigators) just got lucky that Polaris has a relatively fixed position in the northern sky so we can use it to tell which way is north.
2007-05-25 02:42:02 · answer #2 · answered by Isaac H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Polaris is the closest star to the North pole of the celestial globe, thus the name Polaris. In other words it is close to the astronomical North, which is slightly different to the geographical North (a few seconds of a degree, depending on the location), and very different to the magnetic North (some degrees).
Hope I 've helped
2007-05-25 03:14:01 · answer #3 · answered by Dimitrios 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Polaris wobbles around true North. Earth's magnetic North is caused by the movement of molten iron in the planet's core and is in constant motion. It has reversed several times in the past....so that magnetic North was actually at the geographic South pole! 790
2007-05-25 02:48:14 · answer #4 · answered by Knick Knox 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Magnetic north is caused by the magnetic field around the earth (always changing) so Polaris is definately not magnetic north
2007-05-25 02:39:15 · answer #5 · answered by yerffej89 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Polaris makes a small circle of 1/2 degree radius around the axis of Earth (true north) as viewed from here. 1/2 degree is the diameter of the full moon.
Some believe that Polaris is reason that technology developed first in the northern hemisphere. It provides a very accurate reference for both azimuth and latitude (especially when corrected for time of day), very useful for navigation.
2007-05-25 02:57:17 · answer #6 · answered by Gary H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Neither. It's a star close to (currently 42 arcminutes away from) the northward projection of the Earth's rotation axis. Magnetic north is 7 degrees south of the Earth's rotational north pole.
2007-05-25 04:32:53 · answer #7 · answered by GeoffG 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Neither. It is about 1 degree from true north.
2007-05-25 03:05:58 · answer #8 · answered by mathematician 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋