Greenwich Royal Observatory

The Greenwich Royal Observatory includes Flamsteed House and the Harrison Timekeepers ⇐. In the midst is a small garden with this very impressive Dolphin Sun Dial.

The sun-dial is self-adjusting. As the height of the sun changes with the time of the year, the shadow position changes its height and so indicates a corrected time..

The Greenwich Royal Observatory and Flamsteed House.

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Inside the onion dome is the largest refracting telescope in the UK. First used in 1893, it remains one of the largest refracting telescopes ever built. Entry is free except the night sky observation evening. For more and to find out about night sky observation evenings please click here ⇒ .

The Planetarium ⇒for which there is a charge.

The Astronomy Center ⇒ is mostly educational and is free to enter.

Astrolabes and Armillary Spheres were used to predict/exhibit planet and moon positions..

Visitors to the Astronomy Center can touch part of the Gibeon Meteorite ⇒. At 4.5 billion years old it is the oldest thing that a mere earthling might touch.

An early spectroscope. Spectroscopy ⇒.

Outside the Meridian Courtyard ⇐ is a 24 hour electric clock. The use of roman numerals means that it is actually indicates 2 pm.

And, there is a lot more to see and do at Wonderful Greenwich⇐.

September 11, 2016 | Categories: East London, History, london, museums, Photography, places to photograph in london, Places to Visit, Science, Travel, uk | Tags: astronomy centre, gibeon meteorite, Greenwich, greenwich royal observatory, refracting telescope, sundial | Leave a comment

London Water and Steam Museum, Express Tavern and Kew

London Water and Steam Museum Garden

14 pics. Cities could not grow beyond a few tens of thousands and civilisation could not flourish without a plentiful supply of clean water. Otherwise epidemics of water-borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid would devastate the population. The development of filtration and pumping by steam engine was vital to progress.

The London Water and Steam Museum ⇒ (there is an entrance fee) explains the advances in water cleanliness and houses a number of steam-driven pumps, including some truly massive devices. On designated days some of the engines can be seen working.

The other essential was the disposal of waste and an ornate example of this can be found in east London at the renovated Crossness Pumping Station ⇐.

To get to the Water and Steam Museum: On Leaving Kew Bridge station, turn right, pass the very pleasant Express Tavern ⇒, and turn into Green Dragon Lane. The tall chimney is an easy landmark.

Alternatively Kew Gardens ⇐ which includes Kew Palace is just over the nearby bridge..

There is more about our use of steam and the role of fossil fuels at the Science Museum ⇐.

The above Boulton and Watt 64 inch (piston/cylinder diameter of 64 inches) has a beam weighing 15 tons and delivered 2.5 million gallons of water per day and was last used in 1944.

This is the 90 inch Cornish engine with a beam weighing 32 tons and delivered 6.4 million gallons of water per day. It was last used in 1943. The steam cylinder is the massive dark object at the far end. The nearer cylinder is the water pump.

This monster is the 100 inch Cornish engine. The 100 inch (8 foot and 4 inches wide) steam cylinder is the dark object the distance. The beam weighs a staggering 54 tons and it once delivered 7.5 million gallons of water per day. Built in 1869 it remained in service until 1958.

More :-

The above is the Waddon steam pumping engine. It was the last steam driven water pump used in the UK and remained in service until 1983.

Above is a triple expansion engine. Designed to be more efficient as most of the steam pressure is used by passing the output of one cylinder to the next.

On designated days (website ⇒) a small steam locomotive provides rides, although the track is very short.

On the way back is the Express Tavern ⇒ which has a very pleasant menu and a broad range of beers. Across the nearby bridge is Kew Gardens ⇐.

August 4, 2016 | Categories: History, london, museums, Photography, places to photograph in london, Science, Travel, uk, West London | Tags: boulton and watt, cornish steam engines, express tavern, Kew, steam engines | 8 Comments

Humpback whales rescuing animals from orcas

A very interesting post by IdealisticRebel. Please refer all likes and comments to that blog. Thank You. 🙂

idealisticrebel

Humpback whales around the globe are mysteriously rescuing animals from orcas

Scientists are baffled at this seemingly altruistic behavior, which seems to be a concerted global effort to foil killer whale hunts.

humpback whale

Humpback whale to the rescue? (Photo: Wiki Commons)

Humans might not be the only creatures that care about the welfare of other animals. Scientists are beginning to recognize a pattern in humpback whale behavior around the world, a seemingly intentional effort to rescue animals that are being hunted by killer whales.

Marine ecologist Robert Pitman observed a particularly dramatic example of this behavior back in 2009, while observing a pod of killer whales hunting a Weddell seal trapped on an ice floe off Antarctica. The orcas were able to successfully knock the seal off the ice, and just as they were closing in for the kill, a magnificent humpback whale suddenly rose up out of the…

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August 1, 2016 | Categories: Animals, natural history, Science, Wildlife | Tags: humpback, nature, orcas, whales | Leave a comment

The Vault and the Cursed Amethyst at the Natural History Museum London

Latrobe Gold Nugget made of rare crystallized gold.

At the end of the Minerals Hall at London’s Natural History Museum is The Vault which contains a number of precious objects including the Latrobe Gold Nugget, the Medusa Emerald, the Cursed Amethyst and a Martian Meteorite. 19 more pics ↓ . And, more at the Earth’s Treasury and Earth’s Treasury 2.

The Vault

These are just a few of the rare items in the vault.

Yellow Sapphire and Padparadscha

Sapphires come in various colours and, like ruby, are made of corundum. The orange/pink is a rare colouring of sapphire known as padparadscha.

Imperial Topaz

Rain in Seawater – An Aquamarine variety of Beryl

The Scotch Koh-i-Noor – A Goshenite variety of Beryl

It is a bit of a mystery how it got its name, as it probably came from Brazil.

Sapphire Button

Opal Necklace

The Hope Chrysoberyl

This was once a part of the collection of Henry Philip Hope along with the Hope Diamond.

The Medusa Emerald

The medusa is regarded as one of the world’s finest mineral specimens.

Cut Morganite

Crystal within a Crystal

A pink morganite crystal that grew around a blue aquamarine core.

Amethyst Boulder

It is amazing to think what might be found inside an ordinary looking rock. 🙂

The Cursed Amethyst

It is reputed that the Cursed Amethyst was stolen from an Indian temple in 1857 and then passed through several unfortunate hands before being owned by Edward Heron-Allen who bequeathed it to the museum. Whilst Heron-Allen owned the gem he had it kept in a bank vault within seven locked boxes. The whole story can be found here.

The Tissant Meteorite from Mars

Tissint Meteorite

The Tissant Meteorite landed near the village of Tissant in Morocco in 2011, taking 700,000 years to travel from Mars having being ejected by that planet. Its particular importance derives from the indications that there was once liquid water on Mars. If there is water, now beneath the surface, then solar-powered electricity can be used to split the H2O into Hydrogen and Oxygen. The second can be used to support life, and both together as rocket fuel.

On the other hand, we could take more care of our own planet first. 🙂

The Minerals Hall

With thousands of specimens.

Hydrohematite

Iridescent crystals

Iridescent Stalactites

Chalcotrichite

More at the Earth’s Treasury.

February 23, 2016 | Categories: Central London, museums, Photography, places to photograph in london, Places to Visit, Science, uk | Tags: cursed amethyst, geology, medusa emerald, museum, opals, Padparadscha, saphires, tissint meteorite | 17 Comments

Model Steam Engines at the Science Museum

Model of Shand Mason Steam Fire Engine

On the mezzanine floor, that you can only reach by stairs, of the Science Museum in the “Making of the Modern World” hall you can find these hand crafted beauties. The Science Museum also has a wonderful collection of beautiful antique watches.

Model of Alexandra Steam Train

Model of Stephenson's Long Barrel Locomotive

Model of Stephenson’s Long Barrel Steam Locomotive

Model of Austria Steam Locomotive

Model of Crampton’s Steam Locomotive

Model of American 4-4-0 Steam Locomotive

Model Steam Train

Model Steam Train Showing Exposed Fire Tubes

This one shows the fire tubes that carry the hot gases from the fire box through the boiler. It was by this innovation that it was possible to transfer a great deal of heat quickly to the surrounding water, hence create and maintain a large volume of high pressure steam to drive the locomotive. The steam rises to the bubble on the top and a throttle controls the steam flow to the cylinders/pistons beneath.

And, a Rolls Royce

Model of Rolls Royce Silver Ghost 1911

And, a Wooden Ship

Model Wooden Ship

And, on the Ground Floor

Model of the Rocket Steam Train

Royal George No 5 Model Steam Train

Happy traveling. :-).

February 12, 2016 | Categories: Central London, History, museums, Photography, places to photograph in london, Places to Visit, Science, Travel, uk | Tags: model rolls royce, model steam engines, model steam fire engine, model steam locomotives, moel of stephenson's rocket, museum | 14 Comments

Beautiful Timepieces at the Science Museum London

32 pics. The London Science Museum now incorporates the Clock Museum which was previously housed at the Guildhall. Along with some beautifully crafted watches there are examples of chronometers.

The chronometer has been vital to the ability to create charts and safely navigate the world. The first chronometers were invented by John Harrison and are currently kept at Greenwich. Navigation and Greenwich and Greenwich Mean Time and there importance to the modern world can be found here whilst information about Harrison’s timepieces here.

Here are just a few of the hundreds of timepieces on view at the museum. It is well worth viewing the detail by right clicking on a picture, selecting “Open Link in New Tab” and then left click on the image to magnify.