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Re: (meteorobs) Closure of the Royal Greewich Observatory
Apologies for replying to an off-topic subject, but there were several
errors in Bill's recent posting.
Bill,
We're still reeling from this news, although it was leaked some weeks
earlier. The Council (PPARC) which pays for the observatories has got
its finances in a twist. Some would say through incompetence; but
let's be charitable and say it is mostly to pay for the UK share of
the Gemini 8-m telescopes. Hence they are making drastic cuts. Many
would say that there is no coherent plan to the cuts and that it will
cripple UK astronomy.
Don't be confused between the Royal Greenwich Observatory and the
Royal Observatory at Greenwich. It is the latter which is on the
prime meridian and has the horological collection. The former
supports UK research astronomers, in particular, through the La Palma
observatory/archive and plate-measuring machines. The two split in
1947, when the RGO moved to Herstmonceux Castle (near the south coast
of England) to have darker and cleaner skies. In 1990, as part of
another cost-cutting move, the Castle site was sold, jobs were lost,
and the RGO moved to a new building in Cambridge. It's not historical
at all. The establishment, however, is. One worry is the loss of
expertise.
As far as I know the Old Royal Observatory in Greenwich Park is not
being closed. They have a big sign counting down the time to the
media's millenium, i.e. one year early.
The Government is only indirectly concerned (probably a little
embarassed as it's a legacy from the previous lot), though they could
help by increasing the science budget to match more closely the R&D
percentages of Gross National Product of say Germany and France.
Inflation in research has been higher than the retail price index.
The Queen doesn't get involved in politics, though her offspring
dabble.
> Imagine a world without GMT.
> Absolutely appalling!!! Universal Time.???? God Forbid!!!
UTC is already the world standard apart from a few vestiges
like the BBC World Service. Officially there is no GMT.
Malcolm
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