# SparkFun Micro Magnetometer - MMC5983MA (Qwiic)

**URL:** <https://community.sparkfun.com/t/sparkfun-micro-magnetometer-mmc5983ma-qwiic/65573>\
**Category:** IMU & Motion\
**Created:** [June 17, 2025, 9:45pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/sparkfun-micro-magnetometer-mmc5983ma-qwiic/65573 "2025-06-17T21:45:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![alejandro.allievi](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/sparkfun/user_avatar/community.sparkfun.com/alejandro.allievi/32/10055_2.png) [@alejandro.allievi](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/alejandro.allievi)\
**Post date:** [June 17, 2025, 9:45pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/sparkfun-micro-magnetometer-mmc5983ma-qwiic/65573/1 "2025-06-17T21:45:21Z")

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I’m using the SparkFun Micro Magnetometer - MMC5983MA to know the heading of a flying object. The reverse side of the MMC5983MA has the Y-axis along the longer side of the magnetometer and the X-axis along the shorter side of the magnetometer (Z-axis is normal to both). I have a couple of questions:

1. Do these X and Y axes need to be precisely positioned along the X and Y axes of the frame of reference of the flying object respectivelly?? Or it’s irrelevant as long as software takes care of the difference in axis alignment??
2. Do I still need a gyro+accelerometer or the magnetometer is enough??  
Thanks for any feedback.  
AA

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**Author:** ![jremington](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/sparkfun/user_avatar/community.sparkfun.com/jremington/32/6595_2.png) [@jremington](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/jremington)\
**Post date:** [June 17, 2025, 11:20pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/sparkfun-micro-magnetometer-mmc5983ma-qwiic/65573/2 "2025-06-17T23:20:26Z")

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1. No, but the axis correction must be known and applied.

2. A magnetometer is not enough to determine heading, if the magnetometer Z-axis is not always perpendicular to the Earth’s surface. Use 3D tilt compensation instead. The accelerometer determines “down”.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![alejandro.allievi](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/sparkfun/user_avatar/community.sparkfun.com/alejandro.allievi/32/10055_2.png) [@alejandro.allievi](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/alejandro.allievi)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2025, 12:09am UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/sparkfun-micro-magnetometer-mmc5983ma-qwiic/65573/3 "2025-06-18T00:09:18Z")

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Don’t know if I understand you, do you mean that both magnetometer and gyro+accelerometer are necessary??

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jremington](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/sparkfun/user_avatar/community.sparkfun.com/jremington/32/6595_2.png) [@jremington](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/jremington)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2025, 12:11am UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/sparkfun-micro-magnetometer-mmc5983ma-qwiic/65573/4 "2025-06-18T00:11:57Z")

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To rephrase:

A magnetometer is enough to determine heading ONLY if the Z axis is always perpendicular to the Earth’s surface.

If the Z axis is not perpendicular to the Earth’s surface, tilt correction is required to determine heading.

Added: all magnetometers must be calibrated in their final mounting place, before they can be used as compasses.