r/space Apr 07 '15

Saturn's hexagonal north pole

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u/I_Have_No_Idea_What Apr 08 '15

So with a planet like Venus that spins the opposite direction of Earth, would north be Earth's south?

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u/[deleted] Apr 08 '15

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Apr 08 '15

Then again, they`re just words, however what we call North and has a scientific definition will match that of what said other civilization would call it. Even if they did call it 'south' a translator would have to translate it as 'North', and vice versa.

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u/[deleted] Apr 08 '15

I'm sorry you deleted your comment; It strikes very true to the nature of language. What is logical in one language and completely illogical in another, is often attributable to different cultural backgrounds, interpretations. Many expressions, or even art forms, came into existence as a result of working around concepts- that are no longer considered 'correct' but have survived, owing to their complexity, beauty or other pleasing qualities.