England we take our time (Greenwich Mean Time) from the meridian 0 which passes through Greenwich observatory.
This meridian is known as the prime meridian and is used as a basis for the reckoning of international time . The standard times of various countries in relation to noon at Greenwich are given in Whitaker's almanacs.
On long sea voyages clocks are adjusted daily according to the position of the ship. In connection with the variation of time through the world , it is interesting to note that on Christmas afternoon, during the "Round the World " broadcasts, the Australia announcer is speaking in the early hours of Boxing Day morning . The close of play scores of a test match at Sydney are known in England on the morning of the same day , for when play finishes in Sydney at 6 p.m it is only 8a.m in England
The Date Line
A peculiar position arises at the meridian 180 degree . This meridian may be reckoned both as 180 degree E and 180 degree W study the picture if the time at A Greenwich meridian is 8am on Wednesday, December 9th then calculating eastwards the time at C (179 degree E) will be 7.56 pm., Wednesday, December 9th; but if the time is calculated westward it will be 8.4 pm., Tuesday, December 8th at D (179 degree W) Allow four minutes more for 1 degree westwards from D and eastwards from C and we discover that the time at B is both 8pm., Tuesday, December 8th
