IERS Reference Meridian
The IERS Reference Meridian is an imaginary line that goes all the way around the Earth from the North Pole to the South Pole. Think of it like a super long, invisible ruler wrapping around the Earth. It helps people measure time and location accurately.
The line is determined by the International Earth Rotation and Reference System Service (IERS), which is a group of people who study the Earth's rotation and make sure everyone is using the same system to measure time and location.
The IERS Reference Meridian is used as the starting point for measuring longitude, which is how we measure how far east or west a place is from a certain point on the Earth. This point is known as the Prime Meridian, and it passes through Greenwich, England.
By using the IERS Reference Meridian and the Prime Meridian, we can pinpoint exactly where things are on a map or a GPS device. It's like drawing a big circle around the Earth and using certain points as reference markers to help us find a specific place.
The line is determined by the International Earth Rotation and Reference System Service (IERS), which is a group of people who study the Earth's rotation and make sure everyone is using the same system to measure time and location.
The IERS Reference Meridian is used as the starting point for measuring longitude, which is how we measure how far east or west a place is from a certain point on the Earth. This point is known as the Prime Meridian, and it passes through Greenwich, England.
By using the IERS Reference Meridian and the Prime Meridian, we can pinpoint exactly where things are on a map or a GPS device. It's like drawing a big circle around the Earth and using certain points as reference markers to help us find a specific place.