Direction in outer space

Discussion in 'Physics & Math' started by Saint, Apr 28, 2019.

  1. Saint Valued Senior Member

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    If I am in a space ship in outer space, how do I define my up-down, north-south-east-west?
     
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  3. origin Heading towards oblivion Valued Senior Member

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    There is no 'real' up, down, etc, so you would pick a convenient point of reference, such as the center of the galaxy.
     
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  5. mathman Valued Senior Member

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    You can define orientation within the spaceship, but that is arbitrary.
     
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  7. billvon Valued Senior Member

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    You can choose any definitions you like.
     
  8. Seattle Valued Senior Member

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    Inertial navigation, stars, making your own map with appropriate landmarks, etc.
     
  9. kx000 Valued Senior Member

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    Is outer space a higher dimension than what we experience on earth.
     
  10. Gawdzilla Sama Valued Senior Member

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    Find the center of the universe, you can eyeball that. Then determine which pole is closest. It's usually Pilsudski.
     
  11. Michael 345 New year. PRESENT is 72 years oldl Valued Senior Member

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    He gets around doesn't he?

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  12. spidergoat pubic diorama Valued Senior Member

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    Why would you need to?
     
  13. TheFrogger Banned Valued Senior Member

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    You navigate by the stars and planets in space, much like Sailors do with their, "Starboard."
     
  14. Seattle Valued Senior Member

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    No.
     
  15. Dywyddyr Penguinaciously duckalicious. Valued Senior Member

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    "Starboard" has nothing to do with stars.
     
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  16. Saint Valued Senior Member

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    if there is no air outside the spaceship, how to measure its own speed?
     
  17. Seattle Valued Senior Member

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    Why would you need air to measure speed?
     
  18. Gawdzilla Sama Valued Senior Member

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    Agreed. But it's how sailors orient themselves. Arbitrary but workable in the situation.
     
  19. exchemist Valued Senior Member

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    Indeed. As I recall, it comes from stuurboard or something (Dutch?) meaning the side of the ship on which the steering oar was located, before hinged rudders were provided. The French tribord comes from the same root, via estribord or something like that.
     
  20. origin Heading towards oblivion Valued Senior Member

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    It would be relative to your departure point or destination.
     
  21. origin Heading towards oblivion Valued Senior Member

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    No.
     
  22. Gawdzilla Sama Valued Senior Member

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    And ships moored portside to the pier, or the port itself. You didn't have to unship the steering oar.
     
  23. Michael 345 New year. PRESENT is 72 years oldl Valued Senior Member

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    Working on a oil rig as a STC Safety Training Coordinator they thought I should know something about the lifeboats

    OK so sent a couple of others and myself to Singapore for lifeboat training

    It just so happened ours was the last course to learn rowing version since all lifeboats now are motorised

    All I really recall now is Port side has the red light

    But it was fun for 10 days rowing around Singapore Harbour

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