Scientists explain why the Greenwich meridian is not where it should be

As we learned in college, science says that the Greenwich meridian is an imaginary line that crosses the north and south of the planet, and is considered the zero point for astronomical observations. However, a few years ago, scientists found out The Greenwich Meridian is not exactly where it should be; In fact, it was found about 100 meters from the original site.

Longitude is the line that crosses the planet from north to south. The Greenwich meridian was chosen as the prime meridian of the Earth in 1884. At that time, spokespersons from 25 countries met to determine the longitude, when Greenwich won by 22 votes – Brazil and France abstained, and only one country voted against the longitude. an agreement.

Greenwich meridian, or the “first meridian”, is visited annually by thousands of tourists from all over the world. The famous imaginary line dividing the eastern and western hemispheres can be visited at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England. However, the true meridian is located about 100 meters from the location described as the “original”..

The Greenwich Meridian is not where it should be; The actual location is about 100 meters away from the official website.source: Getty Images

“We always tell this story, saying that as we improve our measurements and get better technology, of course these things change, because we want to have the best possible data. I think it would be nice to have a marker in the garden to update the history of the Greenwich meridian for the 21st century “Right now, the closest thing to a marker is trash,” said Marek Kukkola, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich.

Why isn’t the longitude where it should be?

In a study published in the Journal of Geodesy, a team of scientists reported this The actual Greenwich Meridian is about 102 meters east of the originally chosen location. The reason is much simpler than it might seem: scientists explain it Existing GPS devices provide more advanced technology and more accurate calculations – More specifically, the prime meridian is located next to the dumpster in Greenwich Park.

In 1984, scientists used data from the telescope to confirm the current location of the Greenwich Meridian Line, but the study indicates that the telescope was not fully adjusted. After several updates of the GPS systems since 1984, the researchers realized that the correct area was a little further away than they had thought.

“With advances in technology, a change in the prime meridian has become inevitable. Perhaps a new marker should be installed in Greenwich Park for the new prime meridian,” said Ken Sedelman, a University of Virginia astronomer and co-author of the study.

Did you like the content? So stay up-to-date with the latest science news here at the world of technology And if you’re into it, learn more about how gravity bends light.