International Conference Held at Washington for the Purpose of Fixing a Prime Meridian and a Universal Day. October, 1884.: Protocols of the ProceedingsInternational Meridian Conference (1884 : Washington, D.C.)
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International Conference Held at Washington for the Purpose of Fixing a Prime Meridian and a Universal Day. October, 1884.: Protocols of the Proceedings
International Meridian Conference (1884 : Washington, D.C.)
Prime Meridian -- Congresses; Time -- Systems and standards -- Congresses
With regard to the reckoning of longitude, I submit that longitude and
time are so intimately related that they may be expressed by a common
notation. Longitude is simply the angle formed by two planes passing
through the earth's axis, while time is the period occupied by the
earth in rotating through that angle. If we adopt the system of
measuring time by the revolution of the earth from a recognized zero,
one of these planes--that through the zero--may be considered fixed;
the other--that through the meridian of the place--being movable, the
longitudinal angle is variable. Obviously the variable angle ought to
be measured from the fixed plane as zero, and as the motion of the
earth by which the equivalent time of the angle is measured is
continuous, the longitude ought to be reckoned continuously in one
direction. The direction is determined by the notation of the hour
meridians, viz., from east to west.
If longitude be so reckoned and denoted by the terms used in the
notation of cosmic time, the time of day everywhere throughout the
globe would invariably denote the precise longitude of the place
directly under the mean sun. Conversely, at the epoch of mean solar
passage at any place, the longitude being known, cosmic time would be
one and the same with the longitude of the place.
The advantages of such a system of reckoning and nomenclature, as
suggested in the recommendations which I now submit, will be, I think,
self-evident.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE REGULATION OF TIME AND THE RECKONING
OF LONGITUDE
1. _That a system of universal time be established, with the
view of facilitating synchronous scientific observations,
for chronological reckonings, for the purpose of trade and
commerce by sea and land, and for all such uses to which it
is applicable._
2. _That the system be established for the common observance
of all peoples, and of such a character that it may be
adopted by each separate community, as may be found
expedient._
3. _That the system be based on the principle that for all
terrestrial time reckonings there be one recognized unit of
measurement only, and that all measured intervals of time be
directly related to the one unit measure._
4. _That the unit measure be the period occupied by the
diurnal revolution of the earth, defined by the mean solar
passage at the meridian twelve hours from the Prime Meridian
established through Greenwich._
5. _That the unit measure defined as above be held to be a
day absolute, and designated a Cosmic Day._
6. _That such Cosmic Day be held as the chronological date
of the earth, changing with the mean solar passage at the
anti-meridian of Greenwich._
7. _That all divisions and multiples of the Cosmic Day be
known as Cosmic Time._
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