Who Established Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and Why?

Discover the origins of GMT and its importance in global timekeeping.

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GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) was established in the 19th century by British astronomers at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London, to aid in maritime navigation. It became the standard time reference for the globe in 1884. GMT has since been replaced by UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) for most practical purposes, but remains closely related to it.

FAQs & Answers

  1. What is Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)? Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is the mean solar time at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London, and serves as a global standard for timekeeping.
  2. How does GMT differ from UTC? Although GMT is the solar-based time, UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) is a more precise time standard that includes atomic time adjustments.
  3. When was GMT established? GMT was established in the 19th century and became a standard reference for global time in 1884.
  4. Why is GMT important? GMT was crucial for maritime navigation and became the foundation for modern timekeeping practices worldwide.

Watch More

For more insights into timekeeping systems, check out our videos on UTC and the history of time measurement around the world.

  1. Who Established GMT and Why It Matters Discover who decided on GMT and its significance as the world's time standard.