<p>Maps of the sky are being used to actually get to know the sky. Thus you take the map and hold it above your head (as opposed to a map of the Earth's surface where you look down on Earth). Thus East and West are switched between that two types of maps, so that directions match actual directions when viewing the map.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-19T13:07:19.507Z
2020-05-19T13:07:19.507Z
planetmaker
<p>Both comments are perfectly valid. For clarity I would describe it this way, now that I understand it.</p>

<p>You have to imagine being inside the celestial sphere look outwards. From within the sphere you have (counter-clockwise, starting at the top) North, East, South and West. But if you view the sphere from the outside then of course East and West are swapped. And that is precisely because the coordinate system that is used to find the location of any specific point, on the surface of the sphere, is still used viewed from within the sphere.</p>

<p>Just another way of describing it, thanks for the other answers.
Hope this helps.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-20T14:30:24.867Z
@MikeG But that is in contradiction with the other two answers. How could they be counter clockwise as viewed from within the sphere?
Benjamin
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-20T15:39:08.810Z
The map in your question has N E S W counterclockwise.
Mike G
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-20T16:22:59.277Z
Correct, it is counter clockwise as seen from outside looking in. If you stand within the sphere looking out (i.e. out of the paper let's say) then it is clockwise. Or else I just don't understand it
Benjamin
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-20T17:23:42.930Z
It shows the sky as we see it from *inside* the celestial sphere.
Mike G
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-20T18:19:21.850Z
Ok could you also explain **why** this is the case? I can't really do much with stating facts,sorry to be blunt
Benjamin
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-20T18:40:10.147Z
Let us [continue this discussion in chat](https://chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/108267/discussion-between-mike-g-and-benjamin).
Mike G
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-20T08:01:42.600Z
2020-05-20T19:02:27.063Z
2020-05-20T19:02:27.063Z
Benjamin
<p>I'm wondering why <strong>East</strong> is left and <strong>West</strong> on the right of the celestial sphere if you look at images of it?</p>
<p>Example below:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/wGjnz.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/wGjnz.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>(<a href="http://jrjohnson.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Annotated_Sky_Map.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer">source</a>)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-05-30T22:03:21.403Z
I can't reply to any comments yet, which I find rather strange. Restricting language, communication, shared knowledge, but hey it's not my site. @planetmaker thank you for your comment. I'm a proper newbie, and it placed layman into my questioning of understanding. I now know why east looks west whilst viewing from different points of view. Thank you x
eyeswideopen
<celestial-mechanics><ecliptic>
Why does east and west appear to be mirrored in the celestial sphere?
Benjamin
# Why does east and west appear to be mirrored in the celestial sphere?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-05-19)

I'm wondering why **East** is left and **West** on the right of the celestial sphere if you look at images of it?

Example below:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/wGjnz.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/wGjnz.png)

([source](http://jrjohnson.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Annotated_Sky_Map.png))

**Tags:** celestial-mechanics, ecliptic
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I can't reply to any comments yet, which I find rather strange. Restricting language, communication, shared knowledge, but hey it's not my site. @planetmaker thank you for your comment. I'm a proper newbie, and it placed layman into my questioning of understanding. I now know why east looks west whilst viewing from different points of view. Thank you x  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2020-05-19. Score: 3

Maps of the sky are being used to actually get to know the sky. Thus you take the map and hold it above your head (as opposed to a map of the Earth's surface where you look down on Earth). Thus East and West are switched between that two types of maps, so that directions match actual directions when viewing the map.


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### Answer by username_0 on 2020-05-20. Score: 1

Both comments are perfectly valid. For clarity I would describe it this way, now that I understand it.

You have to imagine being inside the celestial sphere look outwards. From within the sphere you have (counter-clockwise, starting at the top) North, East, South and West. But if you view the sphere from the outside then of course East and West are swapped. And that is precisely because the coordinate system that is used to find the location of any specific point, on the surface of the sphere, is still used viewed from within the sphere.

Just another way of describing it, thanks for the other answers.
Hope this helps.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: @MikeG But that is in contradiction with the other two answers. How could they be counter clockwise as viewed from within the sphere?  
> **username_3**: The map in your question has N E S W counterclockwise.  
> **username_0**: Correct, it is counter clockwise as seen from outside looking in. If you stand within the sphere looking out (i.e. out of the paper let's say) then it is clockwise. Or else I just don't understand it  
> **username_3**: It shows the sky as we see it from *inside* the celestial sphere.  
> **username_0**: Ok could you also explain **why** this is the case? I can't really do much with stating facts,sorry to be blunt  
> **username_3**: Let us [continue this discussion in chat](https://chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/108267/discussion-between-mike-g-and-benjamin).  

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