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  1. Naked Science Forum
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  3. Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology
  4. Why is North "up"?
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Why is North "up"?

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Offline FrankSA (OP)

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Why is North "up"?
« on: 29/05/2009 10:19:23 »
Why is North considered as "up" as depicted on maps and globes? Surely a traveller from another part of the universe, if approaching earth and seeing the southern hemisphere at the top would consider South as "up". I am from South Africa so I am a little concerned that ourselves and the Australians are always considered as "down-under".
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Offline Chemistry4me

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Why is North "up"?
« Reply #1 on: 29/05/2009 10:30:33 »
Hey!! What about us?!

Check out: http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=19401.0

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Offline FrankSA (OP)

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Why is North "up"?
« Reply #2 on: 29/05/2009 10:39:47 »
Oh sorry I forgot, we play Rubgy against you guys and normally win, and then there's South America as well. But yes, have a look at the globe with South as "up", it's far more pleasing to the eye.
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Offline Chemistry4me

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Why is North "up"?
« Reply #3 on: 29/05/2009 11:06:09 »
I think North is considered 'up' because that is where the majority of the population and land mass is. I mean, just imagine the pandemonium if the map was upside down!
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Offline FrankSA (OP)

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Why is North "up"?
« Reply #4 on: 29/05/2009 11:10:44 »
Yes just imagine... I'm still a staunch supporter for it being downsideup, us Southerners would be on top of the world!
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Offline Ophiolite

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Why is North "up"?
« Reply #5 on: 29/05/2009 11:22:16 »
All the  major exploratory and cartogrpahic efforts orginated in the Northern Hemisphere. It was natural, therefore, to have North as up. It's the same reason the Greenwich Meridian is the prime meridian. If it hadn't been it would have been Paris, for much the same reason.
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Offline FrankSA (OP)

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Why is North "up"?
« Reply #6 on: 29/05/2009 11:26:46 »
Ok thanks I thought there was a scientific explanation
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Offline syhprum

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Why is North "up"?
« Reply #7 on: 29/05/2009 22:12:52 »
I think early Chinease maps had north at the bottom.
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Offline Monox D. I-Fly

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Re: Why is North "up"?
« Reply #8 on: 09/05/2019 04:58:43 »
Quote from: syhprum on 29/05/2009 22:12:52
I think early Chinease maps had north at the bottom.
Huh? Why?
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Offline alancalverd

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Re: Why is North "up"?
« Reply #9 on: 09/05/2019 08:57:06 »
The nearest thing to a fixed point in our universe is Polaris, which is always "up", so maps drawn in in the northern hemisphere will logically use that convention. You can then transfer the standard to the southern hemisphere, which has no convenient stellar reference, once you have invented the magnetic compass. Polynesian ocean maps don't bother with such trivia - you navigate by looking at the surface of the sea, but it takes a lifetime to learn how.
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Offline Petrochemicals

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Re: Why is North "up"?
« Reply #10 on: 09/05/2019 11:51:41 »
Because around 75% of land, 80% of people, and 100% of ancient interlectual  history and advanced cultures are in the northern hemisphere.
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Offline yor_on

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Re: Why is North "up"?
« Reply #11 on: 10/05/2019 19:28:00 »
I think its a social context.
Doesn't mean I'm correct though :)
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