Royal Observatory Greenwich: Sundials - Timekeeping Through the Ages Part 1

Original video: https://youtu.be/BzVsUULyIVU Visited on: 3 April 2025

Explore the historical significance of time measurement at the Royal Observatory Greenwich and discover the intriguing sundials that grace Greenwich Park. While the Observatory itself is famous for its role in defining time, the park's sundials offer a tangible connection to ancient timekeeping practices.

Key Sundials in Greenwich Park:

Millennium Sundial: Located within Greenwich Park, this modern sundial is a notable feature, demonstrating how sundials continue to capture our fascination with time and its passage.

Why Sundials are Important:

Sundials represent a crucial part of the history of timekeeping. They were among the earliest devices used to measure the passage of the day, relying on the sun's position to cast a shadow on a marked dial. Visiting these sundials offers a chance to reflect on how time was understood and measured before the invention of clocks and modern timekeeping devices.

Video Timestamps:

00:10 The Shepherd Gate Clock

00:55 The Opening Hours

03:10 Entering the Royal Observatory Greenwich

04:09 Natural Time

08:17 Time and Society

09:28 The Great Equatorial Telescope

09:53 Decades of Observations

12:18 How Does the Telescope Works?

18:12 The Souvenir Shop

28:22 Enjoy the best view of London

Watch Part 2: https://youtu.be/Dzhk5lCELGA

Keywords: Royal Observatory Greenwich, Greenwich Park, Sundial, Timekeeping, Ancient Timekeeping, Millennium Sundial, History of Time, London, Greenwich Mean Time

Location:

Royal Observatory Greenwich

Blackheath Ave, London SE10 8XJ, United Kingdom

https://maps.app.goo.gl/TZXbSBpExcxGrySi8

FXGX+PQ London, United Kingdom

51.47705875081693, 0.0006756467800799732

Attribution 4.0 International — CC BY 4.0 - Creative Commons