On Earth, the cardinal directions are straightforward. The arrow on a compass points to the nearest magnetic pole. You can then use it to travel anywhere on Earth.

In space, the idea of anything being “central” enough to be used as a “North” (since the universe has no center) or being fixated enough to not somehow pose issues is more convoluted.

If you were a pioneer of space exploration, what would your “North” be?

  • deegeese@sopuli.xyz
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    0
    ·
    8 days ago

    LOL it took almost 200 years for humans to agree to use Greenwich as the prime meridian of Earth.

    What makes you think intergalactic travelers will adopt our galaxy as the point of reference?

    • themeatbridge@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      8 days ago

      For the same reason GMT became the standard: Somebody has to make the clocks. Space is pretty big, but if I had to bet money, I would wager that the first intergalactic travelers would start here, where the people are, and they would start with here as their point of reference.

      • deegeese@sopuli.xyz
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        0
        ·
        8 days ago

        Why would you assume humans are the first intergalactic travelers? The universe is 14 billion years old.