The United States Naval Observatory is a scientific agency of the US Navy in Washington, DC, responsible for precise time and astronomical data. It began as the Depot of Charts and Instruments, a place to store and calibrate navigational instruments and charts, and it later turned to astronomy and timekeeping, moving to a new building in the 1840s. In 1877 the astronomer Asaph Hall discovered the two moons of Mars, Phobos and Deimos, using the observatory's large refracting telescope. Today it maintains the master clock of the United States, which helps to keep GPS satellites synchronised, and it produces the astronomical almanacs used for navigation. The vice president of the United States lives in a house on its grounds.
Before and after
- 1829Founding of King's College London
- 1829Publication of Himnusz
- 14 September 1829Treaty of Adrianople
- 5 October 1829Birth of Chester A. Arthur
- 1830Founding of United States Naval Observatory
- 1830Founding of Astana
- 1830Publication of The Brabançonne
- 1830London Conference
- 1830Liberty Leading the People
More in Universe & space
- 17 January 1786Discovery of Comet Encke
- 16 September 1848Discovery of Hyperion
- 16 August 1898Discovery of Phoebe
- 3 December 1904Discovery of Himalia
- 2 January 1905Discovery of Elara
- 27 January 1908Discovery of Pasiphae
The era
This moment belongs to the Industrial era (1760 CE to 1914 CE), steam, factories and revolutions. You can also browse everything in the 19th century.