Why is the standard to show South top in planetary images?

[troypiggo]

Why is the standard to show South top in planetary images? Why would that have been adopted as the standard when every map and plan of Earth has North up? Been meaning to ask this for a while. :screwy:

[rally]

I think that is because its the way the Northern Hemispherian viewers perceive it !
They win due to historical reasons - they were the 'first' to see and record the night sky.

(no arguments about whether the Aztecs saw it before the Babylonians - I am referring to modern history)

[Quark]

Hi Troy,

I think the main reason for the IAU adopting this convention is due to the orientation of the view through the most popular design of telescope on Earth, the Newtonian Reflector.

Cheers
Trevor

[renormalised]

That's correct:D

[troypiggo]

Really? Wow. Ok, thanks guys. Seems all upside down to me.