What is true north?

• A. The geographic north direction toward the North Pole.
• B. The direction a magnetic compass points, which varies by location.
• C. The angular difference between true north and magnetic north at a given location.
• D. The direction toward the south pole.

Answer: (A)

True north is the geographic direction toward the North Pole—the line along the Earth's axis that defines the poles. It serves as the fixed reference for latitude and longitude and stays constant relative to the globe. A magnetic compass, on the other hand, points toward magnetic north, which is not a fixed point and shifts with location and over time due to changes in the Earth's magnetic field. The angular difference between true north and magnetic north at a given spot is called magnetic declination (variation), and navigators must adjust for it when converting bearings. The direction toward the south pole is opposite true north, not true north itself.