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If you were the boss of a group of intergalactic explorers, what would you use as the "North" on the space compasses? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 1 month ago by CraigOhMyEggo@lemmy.ml to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

35 comments fedilink hide all child comments

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?

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[–] TootSweet@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Probably arbitrarily one of the two vectors perpendicular to the plane of the Milky Way? (Assuming it wasn't necessary for this navigation system to work outside of our galaxy.)

[–] superkret@feddit.org 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

intergalactic

[–] TootSweet@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago

planetary, planetary, intergalactic

But seriously, even so, I think it'd be reasonable to still have per-galaxy navigation systems.