Royal Observatory, Greenwich

The Royal Greenwich Observatory ( RGO, German Royal Greenwich Observatory ), which was built as a workplace for the royal court astronomer, was originally on a hill in Greenwich Park in Greenwich, London, from where you can see the River Thames. The Observatory, strictly speaking, the center of the telescope in the observatory, was used as a reference for the definition of the zero meridian and thus the degrees of longitude. It will be marked by a brass strip in the courtyard. Since 16 December 1999, the line illuminates a strong green laser lights at night north through London and Essex.

The observatory was founded on 22 June 1675 by King Charles II of England and the construction was given by John Flamsteed in order. The Flamsteed House ( 1675-76 ), the original part of the Observatory, was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and was the first research institute in the UK, which was built specifically for this purpose.

In 1948 the Royal Greenwich Observatory Herstmonceux after, near Hailsham in East Sussex, to have clearer nights when observing pulled. The Isaac Newton Telescope was built there in 1967, but was brought into the Roque- de-los Muchachos Observatory on La Palma, Spain in 1979. 1990 pulled the Royal Greenwich Observatory again, this time to Cambridge. Following a decision of the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council, it was closed in 1998. The HM Nautical Almanac Office was moved to the closure of the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. Other research has been brought to the UK Astronomy Technology Centre in Edinburgh.

Since 1995, the International Study Centre of Queen's University, Kingston, Canada and the Observatory Science Centre located in Herstmonceux Castle.

Greenwich Mean Time

The Greenwich Mean Time ( GMT), was once the time was measured at the observatory in Greenwich, before being superseded by Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Although there is no active over astronomical observatory in Greenwich, it remains a center of modern astronomy.

See also: Time Zones

The time ball

On the roof of the observatory, the leather- time ball was installed by the court astronomer John Pond in 1833. This is pulled up even today every day and falls to item 13 clock (14 clock CET, in summer by 13 clock summer -time, 14 clock CEST) down. This could set their marine chronometers to the exact Greenwich Mean Time before the ships on the Thames. On December 6, 1855, the time ball was torn down during a storm. In 1919, the leather ball time was replaced by the present red ball of aluminum.

Museum

Today there is a museum in the observatory for astronomy and navigation tools. Furthermore, consider the development of timekeeping from the Middle Ages to modern times. The exhibition shows the relationship between timing and global position determination based on the sun and the stars. A special exhibit is the length H4 chronometer by John Harrison. In addition, a visit to the private residence of the astronomer John Flamsteed is possible.

From the museum hill affords a view of London, and in particular the Docklands, the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf and the Millennium Dome. In addition, an ascent of the tower of the observatory is possible.

History

Able to today's prime meridian

The global coordinate systems are in use today by many fundamental stations instead of only by a defined (see ITRS ). The reference meridian such systems, e.g., WGS 84 runs, about 100 meters east past the observatory.