True north is the direction in which the north pole is located along the Earth's rotational axis, while magnetic north is the direction toward which the compass needle points. In the imagination, these things seem close enough to be the same
But there is no such thing as a North pole.
In some ways it helps to imagine such a thing, but at other times, it gives a sense of order and certainty which isn't really justified.
Celestial north, for us, is pretty close to an imaginary line running all the way down from the star Polaris, to Earth.
But this hasn't always been so.
Nor does the location of magnetic north keep still.
It makes life a lot easier when you remember that neither compass or pole star were used by prehistoric people to find North and that it is more authentic to find north using the sun and shadows.
But there is no such thing as a North pole.
In some ways it helps to imagine such a thing, but at other times, it gives a sense of order and certainty which isn't really justified.
Celestial north, for us, is pretty close to an imaginary line running all the way down from the star Polaris, to Earth.
But this hasn't always been so.
Nor does the location of magnetic north keep still.
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