Imagine you are a ship’s captain in 1707. You know how far north or south you are by the height of the sun. But east to west? You are guessing. Then, one foggy night, your fleet smashes into the rocks of the Scilly Isles. 2,000 men perish. The problem wasn't bad weather—it was a lack of lines .
Every meridian is a memory of a human argument solved by a human invention. From the rocks of Scilly to the chip in your pocket, these imaginary lines are the most real thing we have ever drawn. meridians longitude
But here is the catch: Nature never told us where to start counting. Imagine you are a ship’s captain in 1707