http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46309166/ns/technology_and_science-science/#.TzQFnMWm81s This is all dandy and such but just where would 800 miles EAST of the south pole be? If you're directly on the south pole, any direction from there would have to be due north I would think. Just one of my idiosyncrasies!
Well, that I don't know. It may just spin around in circles like it supposedly would at the north pole. But even if it did work, where would east [or west] be?
The south pole and the magnetic south pole are two different things. The South pole is a Geography point, which is the same as the North pole. Compasses work because of magnets. They find the magnetic north and South Poles. Due to the fact the earth is big enough it doesn't really matter unless you go to the north or south poles. Magnetic North and Magnetic South are at different points.
Whatever but my point is that if you're on the geographic south pole, then there is no east from there then. Right?
Whatever? That was a little rude. To answer your question, I do not know, I am not a cartographer. There is an answer I Binged. http://tywkiwdbi.blogspot.com/2011/04/how-something-can-be-east-of-south-pole.html Someone had the same exact question as you did.
I think this is fascinating. There are still many undiscovered forms of life down there. One of the last true undiscovered frontiers on this planet.