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Science Frontiers ONLINE No. 109: Jan-Feb 1997 |
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Greenwich Late Time
When J. Brink recently visited the Old Greenwich Observatory, in England, he saw a flag hanging on the building giving the longitude of the site, which by definition is 0� 0' 0". The flag also announced that: "The Next Millennium Starts Here."
Why is this in error? Answer below. (Brink, Johan; "Greenwich Late Time," New Scientist, p. 59, October 19, 1996)
LONGITUDE FAUX PAS
The next millennium (the year 2001 or 2000, depending upon your mind-set) really begins where all days begin: at the International Date Line, longitude 180�.