Where is the North Pole?

**monobrow** · 24 January 2011, 17:59

Originally posted by singhr View Post

So I'm helping the kids with their homework and we are talking about the North Pole. I decide to show them it on Google Earth but it's not there! So I surf to see if I can find where it went to and all I get is a load of conspiracy theories none of which past muster with the average ten year old. Please can someone explain why you can't see it on Google Earth.

They don't bother pointing their mirrors (or whatever it uses) at it cause.. there's nothing very exciting to see and everyone knows where it is anyway? (apart from you it seems!)

**Zippy** · 24 January 2011, 18:07

Because the satellites orbit the equator and can't see as far as the North Pole?

**RichardCranium** · 24 January 2011, 19:07

Which North Pole?

**MarillionFan** · 24 January 2011, 19:07

Its hidden. That's where the Alien invasion fleet is.

**TimberWolf** · 24 January 2011, 19:09

Likelyhood is that they only show land masses. At what size should a changeable and moving lump of ice count to show? You can type any 90, x location in Google Earth to see the sea at the north pole, where x is between -180 and +180. [Then type -90, 0 and prepare for your pupils to constrict].

Here's a nice watery view of the Earth : Google Maps

**OwlHoot** · 24 January 2011, 19:15

Originally posted by singhr View Post

So I'm helping the kids with their homework and we are talking about the North Pole. I decide to show them it on Google Earth but it's not there! So I surf to see if I can find where it went to and all I get is a load of conspiracy theories none of which past muster with the average ten year old. Please can someone explain why you can't see it on Google Earth.

If they use a Mercator projection it isn't a pole - It's the North Line (across the top of the screen)

**TykeMerc** · 24 January 2011, 20:06

Isn't that one of the questions with more than 1 answer?

Magnetic North ambles about a fair bit.

The Northern axis of rotation is pretty much fixed.

**RichardCranium** · 24 January 2011, 20:20

Originally posted by TykeMerc View Post

The Northern axis of rotation is pretty much fixed.

The wobbling of the axis makes for a very interesting TV programme. There are a number of cycles involved of varying lengths that have had all manner of affects/effects on the weather over time.

**Moscow Mule** · 24 January 2011, 20:36

Isn't the whole of the top line of the map the North Pole?

They don't show sea ice on the map.

Where is the North Pole?