Greenwich Observatory (London)

Greenwich Observatory, which for a long time had the status of "royal", became the main astronomical organization not only in Britain, but also in the world.

The initiator of its creation was Charles II. The main purpose of the creation was to specify the geographic coordinates important for navigators . Disparate data on the location of geographical points often caused the loss and even destruction of ships.

The Greenwich Observatory was to become the unifying link that sailors could rely on. The collected and processed data would make it easier to navigate the expanses of the seas and oceans and find a way even if deviating from the course.

The basis of the measurement is the longitude, the geographical coordinate used to calculate the distance between the human point of view and another specific point.

The calculation of longitude on land was not difficult - by that time geodetic instruments had already appeared. But on the sea (or ocean), the use of the usual methods was not possible, because the water surface was not located distinctive objects. A reliable method of determining longitude in the seas did not exist until the eighteenth century.

England, being a maritime power, was actively looking for ways to determine longitude in open water.

Of course, it was possible to navigate, as before, to the stars. But this was clearly not enough. Yes, and these landmarks in the cloudy weather and in the fog did not work.

In 1675 (in March) Charles II appointed John Flamsteed as the royal astronomer. The young 28-year-old pastor is instructed: "... with special diligence and thoroughness to begin to reconcile the tables of the movement of the heavens and the location of the stars and improve the art of navigation ...".

In the same year (in March), the Greenwich Observatory begins work. The results of observations are published in the first "Marine Almanac" only two years after the beginning of observations.

The colossal work carried out in Greenwich observatory literally overturns the navigational navigation and gives Britain the opportunity to become the main compiler of sea (nautical) maps.

However, many countries continued to use their own longitude measurement systems.

Italy focused on the meridian in Naples, Switzerland - in Stockholm, Spain - in Ferro, France - in Paris. But the need for a single system for the world of timing and determining the longitude was obvious.

In connection with this, it was decided to organize an International Conference (1884). For a month, representatives of twenty-five countries could not find a compromise. In the end, the starting point was Greenwich in London, now known as the Greenwich meridian. Longitude was decided to measure in two directions - positive (eastern longitude) and negative (western).

Street illumination in London by 1930 was too bright, and further observation of the stars in the previous regime was not already possible. The Greenwich Observatory moved to Hirstmonso (Sussex, 70 km from the former location of the observatory). The remaining complex of buildings passed to the National Maritime Museum. In 1990, astronomers had to move again, already to Cambridge. In 1998, the Greenwich Observatory (Royal) was closed.