Earth is surrounded by a magnetic field generated by electric currents from within the planet. Compasses take advantage of this field to identify north and serve as a navigational aid. But one social ...

For just over two years, a scalar magnetometer developed by Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) and the Space Research Institute (IWF) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences has been on its way to ...

To take your bearing, hold the compass flat and point your body and compass at the object or destination you want to navigate to. Turn the dial to put the magnetic needle inside the orienting arrow.

On Earth, the magnetic field of our planet points a compass north, but in space, things are a bit more complicated. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.