I am reading this book called Longitude the story of Chronometer about John Harrison. For 400 years he solved the problem that Galileo and Newton couldn't solve.
What is that problem?
I will post the notes while I read this book but for now I am amazed by the fact that while Latitude , Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn were easily determined using Sun and other heavenly bodies (yes everything above us is Heaven) placing the zero degree latitude was always a political move. It had run through Azores,Cape Verde Island,Rome,Copenhagen, St. Petersburg, Pisa,Paris and finally settled down at London.
The 360 degrees that these longtitude split from north to south poles varies in distance when they are close to pole vs in the equator (where they are about 68 miles)
15 degrees gives us 4 minutes. (Figure out this calculation.. )
London - the political power house which forever will hold our prime meridian. Next time when you are talking to people about time in their place or using some drop down to say GMT -6 you are still singing the praise of the Queen.
Britain is one of the few countries which doesn't celebrate independence day as they are the ones who gave lot of countries Independence.
From this post written in English to the time your watch/iphone shows British decided these once and for all for the benefit of humanity.
Long Live the Queen!
What is that problem?
I will post the notes while I read this book but for now I am amazed by the fact that while Latitude , Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn were easily determined using Sun and other heavenly bodies (yes everything above us is Heaven) placing the zero degree latitude was always a political move. It had run through Azores,Cape Verde Island,Rome,Copenhagen, St. Petersburg, Pisa,Paris and finally settled down at London.
The 360 degrees that these longtitude split from north to south poles varies in distance when they are close to pole vs in the equator (where they are about 68 miles)
15 degrees gives us 4 minutes. (Figure out this calculation.. )
London - the political power house which forever will hold our prime meridian. Next time when you are talking to people about time in their place or using some drop down to say GMT -6 you are still singing the praise of the Queen.
Britain is one of the few countries which doesn't celebrate independence day as they are the ones who gave lot of countries Independence.
From this post written in English to the time your watch/iphone shows British decided these once and for all for the benefit of humanity.
Long Live the Queen!
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