True North & Compass North ?

[Horus]

Just a quick question please.......

My dealer set up my new Meade LX90 Goto and told me when I set it up myself I should use Magnetic North . When I switched the computer on it asks me wether I want to align to True North or Compass North ? Am I righ in thinking that Compass North is Magnetic North ?

So if it's bit of a thicko question !

[brantuk]

Given the choice I'd choose true north

[brianb]

If you're in the UK the two are close enough that you can forget the difference, for the purpose of setting up a LX90, but not for navigating across trackless terrain.

A magnetic compass points to magnetic north but electronic compasses (usually driven from sat-nav systems) usually point to true north.

[JB80]

I'd pick true North as well, magnetic North moves around a bit, I think.

[Horus]

Sorry my question was"............is Magnetic North the same as Compass North ?

[bamus]

Magnetic North is same as Compas North

[brantuk]

True north is aimed at the pole star whereas magnetic north points at the north pole. There's a small difference as mentioned, which should make little difference for observing, but will do if imaging on a wedge. But I guess you know that.

[Psychobilly]

Grid Magnetic Angle Calculator

for me it 1.39 degrees West of true (Grid) north at the moment...

[rowan46]

Grid Magnetic Angle Calculator

for me it 1.39 degrees West of true (Grid) north at the moment...

thanks for the link

[Horus]

Thanks guys !

[valleyman]

Magnetic North is never the same from one year to the next, due to the rotation of the Earth and the magnetic fields do not flow is straight lines.

For lining up your scope, getting the OTA centered on Polaris should be enough for a good nights viewing.

However if you want to do some long exposer AP then you need to align to True North

[tiredboy]

OK, so should I be using the compass or true north to align my meade etx80 before using goto?

[valleyman]

True North, or Polaris

[tiredboy]

Thanks. That may explain why the alignments seemed off!

Possibly a stupid question but what if your view to the north is blocked?

[EcoTed]

If you can't see North, you could maybe use the 2 star alignment method - I don't have a Meade, but a quick google suggested this as a possibility.

Cheers

Ted

[rowan46]

A compass?

[George Jones]

Roiling the waters ... magnetic north is a magnetic south pole!