true north
A compass needle lines up with Earths magnetic north pole. This is different from Earths geographic north pole, also called true north. The geographic north pole is the top of an imaginary line. This line is the axis around which Earth rotates. The geographic north pole is much like the spindle of a spinning top. The location of the geographic north pole does not change. However, the magnetic north pole shifts in location over time. Depending on where you live, you can correct for the difference between the two poles when you use a map and a compass Figure below .