This app allows you to find the location of magnetic north, which differs from geographic north. Compasses point to magnetic north.
Magnetic North
It is the north pole of the Earth's magnetic field.
It is the point that attracts the needle of a compass.
It moves continuously, and its current position is different from that of the geographic pole.
Generated by the movement of molten metal in the Earth's outer core.
Magnetic north is the point where the lines of the Earth's magnetic field converge; this point is constantly moving.
Geographic North
It is the end of the Earth's axis of rotation; it is the fixed point on the Earth's axis of rotation.
It is considered "true north" and is a fixed point.
Most maps are oriented towards this north.
The location of satellites refers to true north, since Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and other satellite technologies are based on the Earth's axis of rotation (the geographic pole) and not on the Earth's magnetic field.
Difference between the two
Magnetic declination:
It is the angle between magnetic north and true north at a specific location.
This angle varies with time and location.
For accurate navigation, it is necessary to know the magnetic declination of the area to correct the compass orientation.
Magnetic declination exhibits high and fluctuating values in parts of South America, where magnetic intensity is significantly lower.
Extreme magnetic declination is the maximum angle between true north and magnetic north. These extreme values vary significantly depending on location on Earth, ranging from negative (westward) to positive (eastward). These extremes occur in polar regions, where the difference is greatest, and in other places such as the edges of continents or the equator, where the values can be zero or close to zero.
In Earth's polar regions, magnetic declination can exceed 90° because the magnetic poles are closer to the geographic poles.
In Moscow, Russia, the declination is approximately 12° east.
In New York City, USA, it is approximately -13° (i.e., 13° west).
This app also displays the orientation angle, which will be zero for magnetic north. This displayed angle allows you to compensate for magnetic declination and point your device toward true north.