Astronomical Clock - Leicester University, UK
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N 52° 37.379 W 001° 07.411
30U E 627019 N 5831984
An unusual astronomical clock, designed by Prof Allan Mills, a member of staff at the University and mounted on the wall of the Rattray Lecture Theatre.
Waymark Code: WM894W
Location: East Midlands, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 02/21/2010
Views: 4
An astronomical clock is one that not only shows the time but also the relative movements of the Sun, Moon and stars as accurately as possible. The underlying problem in making such a clock is that Sun (civil) time, lunar (tidal) time and star (sidereal) time are not integrally related to one another, and any small discrepancy in ratio soon builds up into an obvious error. The Moon rises on average some 50 minutes later each day, whilst the starry background appears to complete one turn in about 23 hours 56 minutes. Gearing of varying sophistication is used in the well known monumental astronomical clocks of Hampton Court, Wells, York, Prague etc.
The modern solution is to employ three independent quartz crystal oscillators to generate impulses based on solar, lunar and sidereal time. The astronomical clock here at Leicester University utilises this electronic system. It was installed in 1989.
It was designed by Allan Mills and Ralph Jefferson.
It was only afterwards did I realise it was not working. I took my photograph at 15.30 but the clock appears to be showing 7 o'clock?
Status: Not Working
Display: Mounted
Year built: 07/01/1989
Web link to additional info: Not listed
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Photo of clock.
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