Which way is "down" in space?

Question

sun of samsa.......i take your point but according to your argument your feet dont have to be "down" so which way is down?

Answer 1

I don't have the brainpower to seriously consider the philosophical answer!
However, I do know that wherever you are - earth, moon, space, japan, northfield - there's definately only one way to 'go down' on someone!!! X

Answer 2

This is actually a subject of great debate!! Depending on where you are this could be various different directions. When around large bodies in space, down would be towards that body, as you are being pulled towards it.
However if you are far enough away from such objects then down could be one of several different directions. Our galaxy, quite curiously, has formed in a relatively flat spiral so it is quite possible to say that down points towards the bottom of the spiral, however we aren't entirely sure which end is the bottom so you might actually be pointing up...
Alternatively if you want to look at it on a universal scale, then our universe too has actually formed in a relatively flat disc as well. So if you were to work out where the top and bottom of the disc are you've got a 1 in 2 chance of pointing towards the bottom, but also a similar chance of pointing towards the top...

I guess its all up to the way you want to think... To be honest its quite a scary concept, but that doesn't mean it isn't fun thinking about it!! thanks for the question!!

Answer 3

Up, down left, right they are all relative terms. On earth "down" is the pull towards the strongest gravitational source. i.e. the earths core. In space I guess it could be considered the same. Get near a Black Hole and "down" would become pretty obvious. Failing that I suppose you could just say it's the way your feet are pointing.

Answer 4

There is no 'down' in space. Because of this the only way you can orientate yourself is by objects, as in, "Go past the Earth in the direction of the moon." In fact, unless you count 'down' as always being where your feet are, there is no way to tell that you are actually not upside down right now.

Answer 5

If you take the points on a compass - North is at the top and South is at the bottom - and apply this to the Earth, the North pole would be at the top and everything above this is up. It means that the South pole is therefore at the bottom and everything below the Earth would be down.

Answer 6

Pick a direction, it's up to you. It's usualy the way your feet are pointing. In short there is not up or down in space, only up and down relative to an object.

Answer 7

This is a purely relative question, as in space there is no up or down .

If you were in a space shuttle you can determine up or down by analyzing your position in the ship relative to the ship itself. The floor could be down and the ceiling up.

Just free floating in space there is no up or down.

Answer 8

down always is the opposite direction of up if set up equal to left + 90 degrees get the following:
down + right - 90 degrees

Answer 9

There is no down unless you maintain your sense of north and south relative to the earth while you are in space.

Answer 10

I believe that below your feet would be down. That is your orientation from birth. If you were born in space, I do not know. Whatever you are taught. It is relative isn't it.