Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: JeffV. on 01/03/2011 02:30:04

Title: Is there an up or down in space?
Post by: JeffV. on 01/03/2011 02:30:04

JeffV. asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Is there an up or down in space if you are out of Earth's gravity effect?

What do you think?

Title: Is there an up or down in space?
Post by: juhuhu. on 01/03/2011 21:08:19

if space is timeless I don`t think there is any up or down or left or right (:

Title: Is there an up or down in space?
Post by: yor_on on 01/03/2011 21:18:55

It's the same as with divers deep down or at night, very dangerous as all directions become the same, no up or down..

Title: Is there an up or down in space?
Post by: syhprum on 01/03/2011 22:13:43

Although we are not allowed to have an ether any more we can have a pseudo ether by measuring our motion relative to the CMBR which would present a real barrier to near light speed travel as the CMBR photons would be blue shifted to gamma rays.
up and down could only be considered in relation to a local galaxy space proper could have no up or down.

Title: Is there an up or down in space?
Post by: Bill S on 01/03/2011 22:21:12

Surely, up and down are defined in terms of direction in a gravitational field.  Granted, gravitational effects permeate the Universe, but in space the directional element is not sufficiently noticeable to make up and down readily recognisable.  

Title: Is there an up or down in space?
Post by: Soul Surfer on 01/03/2011 23:45:48

Yes there is a specific direction that can be measured throughout the universe but it is different for different objects though.  The direction is your direction of motion and speed with respect to the cosmic microwave background.  For the solar system the speed is about 350km/sec

Title: Is there an up or down in space?
Post by: Geezer on 02/03/2011 03:01:30

There is no agreement about the direction of "up" on Earth, so it's unlikely there will be any more agreememnt in space.

Title: Is there an up or down in space?
Post by: Bill S on 05/03/2011 17:53:42

Quote from: Geezer

There is no agreement about the direction of "up" on Earth,

Isn't up generally accepted as following a line from the centre of the Earth through the surface.  "Onwards and upwards".

Title: Is there an up or down in space?
Post by: Bored chemist on 05/03/2011 20:21:13

Quote from: Bill S on 05/03/2011 17:53:42

Quote from: Geezer

There is no agreement about the direction of "up" on Earth,

Isn't up generally accepted as following a line from the centre of the Earth through the surface.  "Onwards and upwards".

Yes, which means that my friend in New Zealand thinks it's pretty much the opposite of what I think.
I think up is more or less in the direction of the North star; he  thinks it's heading for the Southern cross.

Title: Is there an up or down in space?
Post by: Heikki Rinnemaa on 07/03/2011 17:37:08

Hei. :)


Space has up-down-left-right-forw-back, depend at what direction you look it.

I made image to view it, and then wake up question;

Which point x-y-z-direction of space is earth?

I dont know that point and i think that we do not have answer of that, because we dont know what is the size of space, hmm,,i'm pretty sure of that. :)