How would a Universal Coordinate system work?

We have a variety of ways of describing our location here on Earth. We can refer to a nearby landmark (eg "by the City Hall"), we can describe our location relative to an area (eg "in the South of the island") and we can describe our location with Longitude and Latitude. It is the later of these methods I am interested in, but on the scale of the Universe.

Obviously the Lat/Long system works because we have identified the North Pole, the South Pole and the Equator of the Earth. This allows us to give 2 arbitary numbers to locate any point on the globe. I am imagining that to have a similar coordinate system in the Universe we would also need to mark out some absolute points.

Given that everything in space is always moving, what could be used as an absolute point in the Universe? The Big Bang perhaps? I considered having the observer as an absolute point, but I am unsure how this would create a reliable coordinate system that could be transfered to another observer.

Whereas the Lat/Long system only requires 2 coordinates, I can imagine a Universal Coordinate system would require at least 3 coordinates. I have been considering adding time as a 4th coordinate, as everything is in a state of motion, knowing the time might help work out relative points if no absolute points can be found.

In general I am struggling with how a Universal Coordinate System would work. Simple X, Y, Z coords (with 0,0,0 being Earth?) seem insufficient in a medium that is in a constant state of change.

Has anyone else tackled such a system?

posted about 4 years ago

Jimmery‭

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