· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Equipment Discussions >> Mounts Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 donnie3 Carpal Tunnel Reged: 12/15/04 Loc: bartlesville oklahoma true north question       #3015043 - 03/30/09 10:36 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   whats an easy way to find true north using a compass. does it have to correspond with your location. thanks, don Post Extras:       DonR Pooh-Bah Reged: 11/15/06 Loc: Georgia, USA Re: true north question [Re: donnie3]       #3015125 - 03/30/09 11:12 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi Don, Yes, it depends on your location. Here's a website that will look up your latitude and longitude based on your zipcode and then look up the magnetic declination. If, for example, your declination is 5 degrees west, your compass needle points 5 degrees west of true north. Post Extras:       Lane Post Laureate Reged: 11/19/07 Loc: Frisco, Texas Re: true north question [Re: donnie3]       #3015128 - 03/30/09 11:13 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   You do need to know your location then it is just a simple process of adding or subtracting degrees from the magnetic north position on your compass. The degrees to add or subtract can be found on a topographical map of your area like the kind you buy at REI for hiking. It isn't a very orderly pattern either, the magnetic lines curve all over the place. I am sure you can find the info someplace on the web also. Post Extras:       Lane Post Laureate Reged: 11/19/07 Loc: Frisco, Texas Re: true north question [Re: Lane]       #3015134 - 03/30/09 11:16 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Oops - I see Don already found you a web site. Post Extras:       donnie3 Carpal Tunnel Reged: 12/15/04 Loc: bartlesville oklahoma Re: true north question [Re: Lane]       #3015163 - 03/30/09 11:31 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   thanks very much, appreciate. don Post Extras:       dpastern super member Reged: 01/01/09 Loc: Brisbane, Australia Re: true north question [Re: donnie3]       #3015191 - 03/30/09 11:45 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   One more (accurate) way imho of doing this is location solar noon. Check this site out: http://www.srrb.noaa.gov/highlights/sunrise/sunrise.html Enter in your latitude/longitude and the date. It will tell you when solar noon is. Have a nice stick in the ground, ready for it. Mark it at the appropriate time. Done. Dave Post Extras:       Unknownastron professor emeritus Reged: 04/06/05 Loc: CatsEye Observatory,Rural Sout... Re: true north question [Re: dpastern]       #3015261 - 03/31/09 12:22 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Registering at the CalSky website and inputing accurate location from a map will also give your magnetic offset. Note that it changes slightly year to year but much less than a degree. Post Extras:       Chris Rowland professor emeritus Reged: 02/28/05 Re: true north question [Re: Unknownastron]       #3015533 - 03/31/09 07:41 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I looked up the culmination of the Sun in CdC and used the shadow of a plumb line at that time. I'm beginning to think that every astronomers garden needs an accurate N/S line set up permanently :-) Chris Post Extras:       Miguel Lopes scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 01/04/07 Loc: Portugal Re: true north question [Re: Chris Rowland]       #3015611 - 03/31/09 08:39 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   If you are near a large mountain with iron core or something similar, the compass is useless. First you need to clarify if you want to find the magnetic north or the earth rotation north. They are very different in some parts of the globe. Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 16 registered and 32 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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