International Date Line?

Question

So I realize that having the international date line 180* away from the Prime Meridian (Greenwich Eng.) is convenient because it is largely empty ocean. But why didn't they just stick the IDL at the Prime Meridian, since that's where all the other time zones are related to (+/- hrs)?

Answer 1

Perhaps for convenience.  It was Great Britain that ruled the seas.  While the Prime Meridian did not always pass through Greenwich (the French had the Prime in their country for awhile) when it did I think it made sailing and navigating easier.  When the spring wound chronometer was finally invented navigation became precise.

For convenience, I think measuring 180 degrees East or West of Greenwich made some sense.  One could depart Greenwich east or west with numbers that only went up to 180.  Perhaps just because I am used to it the grid system is easier to use with N/S and E/W coordinates.  

So, I think that is the reason there is a "dateline" 180 degrees from Greenwich.

Answer 2

I don't know but I've been mad about that myself. I think it's about time we kick someone's ***!!!

Answer 3

It's a matter of time. At some point in the earth's rotation it had to change from one day to the next.

Using the Prime Meridian at Greenwich, 1200 hours or midday, it had to be 2400 or midnight 180 degrees away therefore changing to the next day. You cannot have a date line running through a land mass or country so you will note that the International date line does not run directly down the 180 deg E/W longitudinal line but deviates around groups of islands or countries.

Answer 4

because it then would have been Monday in one part of London and Tuesday a few streets down........very confusing......which as you said is exactly why that cross over point from today to tomorrow is out in the middle of the ocean..to affect the smallest number of people