Today we took a trip to Greenwich Royal Observatory with the family riding on their bikes. This is something that I used to do often as a kid and it was nice to see the tradition continues. Today we saw a 4.5 billion year old rock. it is a meteorite that is believed to have falling to the earth in prehistoric times. It was found being used by the Nama people to make tools in Namibia in 1836
4.5 billion year old meteorite
Time is something that you cannot avoid and it can be argued that time as we know it today started right here in Greenwich. It is also the site of the prime meridian which separates the globe into East and West. People like to straddle or put a leg either side of the meridian for some reason? :)
Back in the pre-industrial age when people set sail for distant lands they often had no clue where they were going and it wasn't until the invention of the clock or chronometer that mariners could judge with some accuracy where they were on the globe.
Greenwich Mean Time
Observations of the stars and the creation of logarithmic tables and charts coupled to an accurate time piece gave early mariners some degree of security on long sea journeys. But how do you convey the time to someone on a ship sailing down the river Thames when you are on top of a hill?
Sailors would stand on deck with a telescope and watch the red ball which would drop at precisely 12 noon daily. They would set their clocks to midday and off they would sail to who knows where?. Simple and effective.
Drop the red ball
There has been an observatory on the top of observation hill for centuries and they have many fine and ancient telescopes and a planetarium.
Greenwich Royal Observatory
There are shows daily at the planetarium.
The Planetarium
The view from the top of observation hill looking north east. In the foreground the old Royal Naval College and beyond the Canary wharf complex on the Isle of Dogs. Between the two the river Thames.
When I was a kid I spent many days wandering about the museums an observatories of London and Greenwich was always one of my favorite places to visit as it was just a bike ride away and full of strange and exotic exhibits. Simple pleasures that time cannot change except for one thing. The price.
When I was a child all these exhibits were free and I took full advantage of what was on offer. Today a visit to the Observatory will cost you £8.00 ($10.40) each! Kind of expensive for a family to find in these tough times.
Time's up. I'm out of here! Goodbye till next time :)
My posts on Astrophotography.
From analog to digital astronomy
Canon 70D camera and lens settings for astrophotography
Starry Night
Astrophotography on no budget
It's full of stars
I found a whole galaxy
Perseid Meteor Shower
Moon and Saturn
Turning the night time into day
My gear list
EOS Canon 70D
Sigma 30 mm
Sigma 20 mm
Pixel Shutter Cable Release
Travel tripod