True North

The direction along the Earth’s surface that points directly towards the geographic North Pole.

True North, also known as geographic north, is the fixed point on the Earth’s surface that aligns with the axis of the planet’s rotation. Unlike Magnetic North, which is influenced by the Earth’s magnetic field and can shift over time, True North is constant and does not change. This distinction is crucial in navigation, as charts and maps are typically oriented based on True North, providing a reliable reference for plotting courses. Mariners must often account for the difference between True North and Magnetic North, a discrepancy known as magnetic variation or declination, which varies depending on geographic location. 

In practical terms, when navigating at sea, sailors use True North to ensure accurate bearings and headings, especially when using celestial navigation techniques, where the positions of stars and other celestial bodies are referenced to True North. Modern electronic navigation systems, such as GPS, also provide bearings relative to True North, further simplifying the process. However, traditional magnetic compasses point towards Magnetic North, so mariners must adjust for the variation when converting compass readings to True North. Understanding the difference between these two concepts is fundamental to safe and precise navigation at sea.