Comments on: Visiting the Primary Indian http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/09/25/visiting-the-primary-indian/ Random samplings from a universe of ideas. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:18:33 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Philip Downey http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/09/25/visiting-the-primary-indian/comment-page-1/#comment-4178 Philip Downey Mon, 26 Sep 2005 14:07:35 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/09/25/visiting-the-primary-indian/#comment-4178 The big circle devices were for measuring the elevations of stars as they transited (were highest in the sky and due south). They could make very precise measurements of the stars' positions in the sky which were used for navigation. Also, the Octagon room is the only surviving Christopher Wren interior in the world. On a final note, which should be checked, Neal Stephenson said in one of his Baroque Cycle books that the observatory site was where King Henry VIII used to keep his mistresses, too. The big circle devices were for measuring the elevations of stars as they transited (were highest in the sky and due south). They could make very precise measurements of the stars’ positions in the sky which were used for navigation.

Also, the Octagon room is the only surviving Christopher Wren interior in the world.

On a final note, which should be checked, Neal Stephenson said in one of his Baroque Cycle books that the observatory site was where King Henry VIII used to keep his mistresses, too.

]]> By: Richard http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/09/25/visiting-the-primary-indian/comment-page-1/#comment-4177 Richard Mon, 26 Sep 2005 12:41:14 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/09/25/visiting-the-primary-indian/#comment-4177 I, too, have made the trip to the Royal Observatory and have a certificate and hat to prove it. Being a pedantic sort, I was bothered by the claim that the Prime Meridian is where the day, year, etc. start. They all really start at the International Date Line, which, due to some big jogs for local convenience, strays from the PM. But don't let my pedantry spoil a great trip to an interesting place. Standing with one foot in each hemisphere is a rush exceeded only by having each arm and foot in one of the US Four Corners states. I, too, have made the trip to the Royal Observatory and have a certificate and hat to prove it. Being a pedantic sort, I was bothered by the claim that the Prime Meridian is where the day, year, etc. start. They all really start at the International Date Line, which, due to some big jogs for local convenience, strays from the PM.

But don’t let my pedantry spoil a great trip to an interesting place. Standing with one foot in each hemisphere is a rush exceeded only by having each arm and foot in one of the US Four Corners states.

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