How do direction work in space because north,east,west and south are bonded to earth? How does a spacecraft guide itself in the unending space?

Question

How do direction work in space because north,east,west and south are bonded to earth? How does a spacecraft guide itself in the unending space?

In: Physics

Answer 1

Directions only work with a reference point (even on earth – the reference point could be the geographic or magnetic poles)

So in space, a traveller would need reference points – possibly using the center of the galaxy or distant galaxies as reference points. Of course it wouldn’t be called N, S, E, W because there are 6 “cardinal directions”.

For travel within the solar system, the sun would be a reasonable reference point perhaps along with a few distant stars.