FUN WITH MAPS ISSUE 2026-105

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (June 22, 2026) – This edition of FWM gives us a view (every day) of the beginning of time and space.

THE CENTER OF TIME AND SPACE

The Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England was established by King Charles II on June 22, 1675.

The land was part of Greenwich Castle, and the main observatory building was designed by Christopher Wren.  The original building became known as Flamsteed House, named after the original occupant and first Royal Astronomer, John Flamsteed.

The building itself has not been a working observatory since 1924 but houses many important artifacts to the history of astronomy, time, and measuring the earth’s surface.

Most famously, the 0 meridian is noted with a brass strip (and now a laser) and denotes where literally both “time and space begin” and visitors can straddle the east and west hemispheres.

Greenwich Mean Time is displayed on the clock at Shepherd’s Gate, setting the standard for clocks all around the world.  The imperial measurements for foot and yard are displayed there too, based on King Henry I’s stature.

Here is Morden’s map of Middlesex from 1720.  The Observatory is noted in the lower right, while London is a bit upstream on the Thames.

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps. Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Fun with Maps here on Loveland Beacon.