Are there any plans to mark the Millenium with the construction of new sundials or meridian lines? Although the counting of years is arbitrary, the year 2000 should be marked with some celebration or festival of the observation and measurement of time.
Last year I was fortunate enough to visit Bologna and see the meridian lines at San Petronios and at the Astronomical Museum, the former observatory. The great meridian line at San Petronios inspired fascination with almost every visitor. It would be wonderful if a few more such lines were built around the world to allow many more people the opportunity to see them and to observe the movement of the earth in such a simple but elegant fashion. Earlier this year I read that the original Foucaults pendulum had been demonstrated in Paris and drew as many visitors as it had originally done over a century and a half ago, this experiment, which demonstrates the rotation of the earth also deserves to be shown to more people, and perhaps the Millenium would be an ideal time. There are many classical experiments connected with the measurement of time or the movement of the earth which could be restaged to mark our movement into the next century and millenium. It would wonderful if those working at the various universities and institutions where these experiments were carried could be persuaded to take some of their exhibits and dust them down for all to see in 3 years time. The construction of a few new sundials and meridian lines would not be expensive and would seem a better tribute than simply a big wheel at Greenwich. Perhaps some of the various Millenium committees could be persuaded to include the building of sundials and meridian lines into their plans? Joe Sempik
