Today we took a trip to Greenwich Royal Observatory with the family riding on their bikes. This is something that I used to do often as a kid and it was nice to see the tradition continues. Today we saw a 4.5 billion year old rock. it is a meteorite that is believed to have falling to the earth in prehistoric times. It was found being used by the Nama people to make tools in Namibia in 1836
4.5 billion year old meteorite
Time is something that you cannot avoid and it can be argued that time as we know it today started right here in Greenwich. It is also the site of the prime meridian which separates the globe into East and West. People like to straddle or put a leg either side of the meridian for some reason? :)
Back in the pre-industrial age when people set sail for distant lands they often had no clue where they were going and it wasn't until the invention of the clock or chronometer that mariners could judge with some accuracy where they were on the globe.
Greenwich Mean Time
Observations of the stars and the creation of logarithmic tables and charts coupled to an accurate time piece gave early mariners some degree of security on long sea journeys. But how do you convey the time to someone on a ship sailing down the river Thames when you are on top of a hill?
Sailors would stand on deck with a telescope and watch the red ball which would drop at precisely 12 noon daily. They would set their clocks to midday and off they would sail to who knows where?. Simple and effective.
Drop the red ball
There has been an observatory on the top of observation hill for centuries and they have many fine and ancient telescopes and a planetarium.
Greenwich Royal Observatory
There are shows daily at the planetarium.
The Planetarium
The view from the top of observation hill looking north east. In the foreground the old Royal Naval College and beyond the Canary wharf complex on the Isle of Dogs. Between the two the river Thames.
When I was a kid I spent many days wandering about the museums an observatories of London and Greenwich was always one of my favorite places to visit as it was just a bike ride away and full of strange and exotic exhibits. Simple pleasures that time cannot change except for one thing. The price.
When I was a child all these exhibits were free and I took full advantage of what was on offer. Today a visit to the Observatory will cost you £8.00 ($10.40) each! Kind of expensive for a family to find in these tough times.
Time's up. I'm out of here! Goodbye till next time :)
My posts on Astrophotography.
From analog to digital astronomy
Canon 70D camera and lens settings for astrophotography
Starry Night
Astrophotography on no budget
It's full of stars
I found a whole galaxy
Perseid Meteor Shower
Moon and Saturn
Turning the night time into day
My gear list
EOS Canon 70D
Sigma 30 mm
Sigma 20 mm
Pixel Shutter Cable Release
Travel tripod
Interesting that rock was that size that fell, or it was actually larger and this is what was left
Good question @edgarsart The rock that fell to earth was indeed much larger but had been used for millennia by people for making tools. It contains many elements.
This 'chunk' is almost a metre in length. Check the link above for a deep dive. :)
wow from the photo it looked like it would be small piece
It's a pretty huge hunk of many metals and other elements.
This is what is left of a much larger object. It must have made a huge crater on impact.
Very interesting post @molometer
It is always nice when a tradition continues and is kept by the younger generation.
4.5 billion years, that's a pretty age, when you imagine that the Earth has an age of 4.6 billion years.
That's exactly it Kevin. My guess is that it is a part of the earth's accretion disk that was drawn into earth by it's growing gravitational force.
That would explain is relatively close age to earth's age. Just my theory but it makes sense to me. @astrophoto.kevin :)
That’s a really good theory and could be certainly true. For me it makes also sense. I all cases it is something from the very beginning of our solar system. 😊
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Thank you for the generous upvote. It is very much appreciated.
I'll pop into the discord group too.
@molometer It is very hard to believe these meteorite are 4.5 billion year old!!!. Thanks for sharing such wonderful post, and today i got to learn something new.keep sharing
My pleasure Rohit, glad you enjoyed it. It is pretty amazing to think 4.5 billion years ago this was flying through space!?
I am fascinated by the Meteorite fragment, amazing to think these things that have fallen from space can be found. Grenwich is jam packed with things to do, with the CuttySark being there, the National Maritime museum, Greenwich Market and also Grenwich Park.
The entry price is expensive, but that is the why many of museums and places of interest around the UK. The National Museum of Film and Photography in Bradford is still free to go round - I was surprised when I last went, I event went up to the main reception desk to try and pay!
#thealliance #witness
Ha ha that is funny. How we all assume (me too these days) about having to pay to see 'our' heritage.
The Bradford museum, it sounds like they have the right idea.
They should all be free for visitors.
There are millions of meteorites falling to earth all the time though not as big as this one.
On the 12th of this month (August) we have a spectacular meteoroid shower. The Perseid shower looking up and you may see some. :)
I was there a few weeks ago @molometer although we didn't get a chance to go into the museum.
I'm always amazed that someone is able to identify rock that is a meteor when it is just lying around with others.
I've often wondered how many I've come across, or ancient tools, and just walked by. 😁
They are all around us all the time. We just have to know what to look for.
Meteorites are usually very dark in colour and heavy.
You can often spot them on a sandy beach and your part of the world is stuffed full with fossils. :)
Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos!
I had my brief time of interest in geology and the enigma that is rocks.. haha
You are welcome. Glad you enjoyed this post.
Liked your time pun too. :)
PMSL
I like the planetarium area,this reminds me of my school days...the scenery is beautiful in this place.thanks for sharing.!!!
Wow! what kind of school did you go to? It sounds out of this world :)