MummyChunk
2024-06-12 15:14:36 UTC
The passenger steamer SS Warrimoo was quietly knifing its way throug
the waters of the mid-Pacific on its way from Vancouver to Australia
The navigator had just finished working out a star fix and brough
Captain John DS. Phillips, the result. The Warrimoo's position wa
LAT 0º 31' N and LONG 179 30' W. The date was 31 December 1899.
"Know what this means?" First Mate Payton broke in
"We're only a few miles from the intersection of the Equator an
the International Date Line". Captain Phillips was prankis
enough to take full advantage of the opportunity for achieving th
navigational freak of a lifetime
He called his navigators to the bridge to check & double check th
ship's position. He changed course slightly so as to bear directly o
his mark. Then he adjusted the engine speed
The calm weather & clear night worked in his favor. At mid-nigh
the SS Warrimoo lay on the Equator at exactly the point where i
crossed the International Date Line
The consequences of this bizarre position were many
The forward part (bow) of the ship was in the Southern Hemispher
& in the middle of summer
The rear (stern) was in the Northern Hemisphere & in the middle o
winter
The date in the aft part of the ship was 31 December 1899
In the bow (forward) part it was 1 January 1900
This ship was therefore not only in
Two different days
Two different months
Two different years
Two different season
But in two different centuries - all at the same time
View the attachments for this post at
http://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=667383467#66738346
the waters of the mid-Pacific on its way from Vancouver to Australia
The navigator had just finished working out a star fix and brough
Captain John DS. Phillips, the result. The Warrimoo's position wa
LAT 0º 31' N and LONG 179 30' W. The date was 31 December 1899.
"Know what this means?" First Mate Payton broke in
"We're only a few miles from the intersection of the Equator an
the International Date Line". Captain Phillips was prankis
enough to take full advantage of the opportunity for achieving th
navigational freak of a lifetime
He called his navigators to the bridge to check & double check th
ship's position. He changed course slightly so as to bear directly o
his mark. Then he adjusted the engine speed
The calm weather & clear night worked in his favor. At mid-nigh
the SS Warrimoo lay on the Equator at exactly the point where i
crossed the International Date Line
The consequences of this bizarre position were many
The forward part (bow) of the ship was in the Southern Hemispher
& in the middle of summer
The rear (stern) was in the Northern Hemisphere & in the middle o
winter
The date in the aft part of the ship was 31 December 1899
In the bow (forward) part it was 1 January 1900
This ship was therefore not only in
Two different days
Two different months
Two different years
Two different season
But in two different centuries - all at the same time
View the attachments for this post at
http://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=667383467#66738346