Royal Observatory, Greenwich

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Astronomical observatory in Greenwich, London, UK

The Royal Observatory, Greenwich (ROG) is an astronomical observatory situated in Greenwich, London, United Kingdom. It played a major role in the history of astronomy and navigation, and is best known as the location of the prime meridian.

History

The Royal Observatory was commissioned in 1675 by King Charles II, with the foundation stone being laid on 10 August. The first Astronomer Royal, John Flamsteed, was appointed to the observatory. The primary purpose of the observatory was to improve navigation by providing accurate charts of the stars.

Prime Meridian

The Royal Observatory is famous for the prime meridian, which is the line of 0° longitude. This meridian was established in 1851 by Sir George Airy, the seventh Astronomer Royal. The prime meridian at Greenwich became the international standard for zero degrees longitude in 1884 at the International Meridian Conference.

Timekeeping

The observatory has been a significant site for the development of accurate timekeeping. The Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) was established here, which later evolved into Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The observatory's Shepherd Gate Clock was the first clock to show GMT to the public.

Instruments and Telescopes

The Royal Observatory houses several important instruments and telescopes, including the Great Equatorial Telescope, which was installed in 1893. The observatory also features the Airy Transit Circle, which was used to define the prime meridian.

Modern Use

Today, the Royal Observatory is part of the National Maritime Museum and serves as a museum and educational center. It offers various exhibits related to astronomy, navigation, and timekeeping.

Related Pages

• Prime meridian
• Greenwich Mean Time
• John Flamsteed
• National Maritime Museum
• Astronomer Royal
• Coordinated Universal Time

See Also

• List of observatories
• History of astronomy
• Navigation

External Links

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