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Klementinum Tower [1]

Tour books tell us that the best view of Prague comes from a 200-foot tower in the city’s Old Town. The tower has served many roles besides tourist attraction, though: weather station, clock, and astronomical observatory.

Klementinum tower was built in 1722. It’s part of a complex built beginning in the 1550s by Jesuit monks. They established a major university there. And while the university has moved on, the site is still home to the Czech Republic’s national library – considered one of the most beautiful in the world.

The tower became an observatory in 1751. It was founded by Joseph Stepling, a priest, mathematician, and astronomer. Three years earlier, he’d used a pair of eclipses to calculate the exact latitude and longitude of Prague. He acquired state-of-the art instruments for the observatory — many of which are on display today.

A few years later, observers began recording weather conditions — a practice that continues today. It’s one of the longest records of weather observations on the planet.

And in 1848, astronomers began keeping time for Prague. Sunlight entered the tower through a hole in the wall. The beam of light crossed a line inside the tower at noon. The astronomers then signaled the time to the rest of the city — first with flags, then with a cannon.

Klementinum tower was restored a few years ago. Today, it’s one of the top attractions in Prague — a spot that’s always offered a great view.
 

Script by Damond Benningfield

Keywords:

  • Astronomy in Popular Culture [2]
  • History of Astronomy [3]
  • Telescopes and Modern Observatories [4]
  • Timekeeping and Calendars [5]
StarDate: 
Sunday, August 28, 2022
Teaser: 
Climbing toward the stars
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Source URL:https://legacy.stardate.org/radio/program/2022-08-28

Links
[1] https://legacy.stardate.org/radio/program/2022-08-28 [2] https://legacy.stardate.org/astro-guide/astronomy-popular-culture [3] https://legacy.stardate.org/astro-guide/history-astronomy [4] https://legacy.stardate.org/astro-guide/telescopes-and-modern-observatories [5] https://legacy.stardate.org/astro-guide/timekeeping-and-calendars