True North

(11 am. – promoted by ek hornbeck)

I’m trying to find true geographic north from a compass.  The magnetic declination (curvature from the poles) in my vicinity shows “counter-clockwise, 15 degrees,” or thereabouts.  Since the magnetic pole is somewhere in NE Canada, I am wondering about the further correction that needs to be made in order to be pointed to the actual pole of the Earth, however wobbly, because I want to remain correct at all times, despite flip-flopping magnetic politicians.  

The “sun-compass” technique (bisecting the hour-hand-of-the watch-directed-at-the-sun with “12-noon”) looks pretty good, in terms of perfecting the dial, but I am worried about “time-of-year” (earth axis tilt) and “daylight savings-time” issues.

I have not thought these things out, to my own satisfaction.  Throw a dog a bone.

The magnetic compasses are obviously off.  The cell-phone apps, equally off.  They both report the same.  One would think that a cell-phone using GPS could calculate true geographic north, but not in my limited experience.

I suppose the people at Creech in Nevada kill people using magnetic-fucking-north drones?  I don’t think so.  They use true north, as I would like to, but not to “kill people,” but to simply aim a goddamned brick compass in a patio, you god-forsaken heathens; how I hate you all, except for the folks at DD, and a few others.  God bless you all.

I look forward to your inspirational dialogue on these issues.