east, and west in space?
2007-03-24 09:29:11 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
no, once you leave earth's magnetic field, a compass won't do you much good. by the right hand thumb rule, our solar system does have a north and south. put up your right hand, and make it so your fingers are pointing around in the direction of the planets orbit. all planets orbit the sun in the same direction. then, your thumb is pointing north. this direction does not point to the north star which is 23 degrees off of solar north. and as far as east and west goes, there is 360 degrees of sideways, not just two. so instead of saying east, we use the constellations as a vantage point. it's like saying, "jupiter can be found by looking in the aries constellation." I don't like this method too much. i'd much rather have it so a direction in space is a ray starting from the sun and pointing to the earth in it's various months. so the direction of march is oppisite the direction of september. and we still have north and south. so instead of saying northeast, we'll say north by march.
2007-03-24 11:39:34 · answer #1 · answered by smokesha 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
A compass on earth points to magnetic north (the north pole) because the earth itself has a magnetic field. In space, far away from the earth, the compass would probably not point towards earth but would point to the nearest (strongest) north magnetic pole that it could 'see' - this might be on another planet or even a star.
2007-03-24 16:49:20 · answer #2 · answered by jarwho 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Magnetic North would be the strongest magnetic field influence that the compass is pointing to, which in the case of if you were on the International Space Station (ISS), would still be earth.
2007-03-24 17:59:24 · answer #3 · answered by mcdonaldcj 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I assume when you say outer space you mean many many thousands of miles.
It cannot work in space for navigation but it may well point towards the Earth simply because Earth is a "magnet".
Bare in mind that the Earth has an iron core and a compass is itself a magnet.
2007-03-24 17:04:34 · answer #4 · answered by Spanner 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It depends on your distance to earth. The magnetic fields that allow a compass to work extend well away from the earth and actually shield the earth from harmful particles emitted from the sun. As you get further away the influence from these fields lessens and your compass would not work. Not all planets have magnetic fields so it may not work on another planet as well. There is a great picture from the source listed below of the magnetic fields of earth.
2007-03-24 16:53:17 · answer #5 · answered by Zach 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That depends how close you are to the Earth.If you were on the space shuttle then yes it would work. But if you were on the Moon then it would point to the Moon's magnetic pole.Or if you were next to Mercury then it would point to the suns magnetic pole.
2007-03-24 16:58:25 · answer #6 · answered by hkyboy96 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is a polar north, and south.
try looking up the obliquity of the ecliptic, that is the angle of the plane of the earths orbit to that of the celestial equator.
I cant say that a compass would work though, it depends on gravity.
2007-03-24 16:52:41 · answer #7 · answered by nymaatra_horakte 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Nope... It will only work on Earth. Other planets would have different fields that would make your Earth compass unstable and not usable.
2007-03-24 16:47:26 · answer #8 · answered by Moon Man 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it depends of the gravity of the planet your visiting
2007-03-24 16:36:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋