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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-03-06
CONTENTS
[01] Students to repeat Eratosthenes' experiment and recalculate earth's
circumference
[01] Students to repeat Eratosthenes' experiment and recalculate earth's
circumference
Students from Greek schools will participate in a science project which
will recalculate the earth's circumference, repeating the experiment of
the famous Greek mathematician, astronomer and geographer Eratosthenes.
The project is being held on the occasion of the Spring Equinox on March
20, which signals the beginning of the new season. On that day, the Sun
shines directly on the equator and the length of day and night is nearly
equal. It is organized by the Institute for Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space
Applications and Remote Sensing (IAASARS), of the National Observatory
of Athens, with the cooperation of the Laboratory Centers of Natural
Sciences of Serres, Pieria, Lakonia, Lesvos and Heraklion.
Eratosthenes (274BC-194BC) is best known for being the first person to
calculate the circumference of the Earth, which he did by applying a
measuring system using stadia, a standard unit of measure during that
time period.
For more information click on the National observatory's webpage (in
Greek): http://www.astro.noa.gr/gr/eratosthenes/
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