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The Royal Observatory

 
The Royal Observatory Landmark: The Royal Observatory 
The Royal Observatory stands as a monument to navigational research. It is the original home of Greenwich Mean Time and is famous for being the source of the Prime Meridian line that divides the East from the West (longitude 0° 0' 0'').
The Observatory galleries unravel time, space and astronomy, the Planetarium lets visitors explore the heavens.

Flamsteed House, Sir Christopher Wren’s original building, also has London's only public camera obscura.

Did you know?

  • There is a time ball on the roof that rises halfway up its pole at 12.55pm daily throughout the year, reaches the top at 12.58pm and drops at exactly 1pm. It was erected in 1833. The ball provided a way for ships to check their time.
  • Edmund Halley, after whom the famous comet was named, was the second Astronomer Royal.
The Royal Observatory and Prime Meridian line - interactive image.

Opening hours and further information on The Royal Observatory website

Time and Space project

The Royal Observatory has undergone a £15million makeover. On 25 May 2007, a state-of-the-art facility opened to the public.

The facility includes: 
  • a modern education centre
  • a 120-seat planetarium
The planetarium is three times the size and many times the capability of the previous one.

More about the Peter Harrison Planetarium - The Royal Observatory website

More about the Weller Astronomer Galleries - The Royal Observatory website


Address

Greenwich Park
Greenwich
London SE10 8QY

Location map of the Royal Observatory

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