On Earth, compasses always point north—but when you’re drifting outside our planet’s magnetosphere, things get more complicated.

The compass needle points in the direction of the Earth's magnetic field, or the magnetic field of a magnet. ... A simple electromagnet is made by coiling wire around an iron nail.

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 ...