Prime Meridian

The Prime Meridian is an imaginary line that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole, dividing the Earth into the eastern and western hemispheres. Located at 0 degrees longitude, it serves as a starting point for measuring longitude and establishing coordinated universal time (UTC). The Greenwich Prime Meridian, established at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England, is the most widely recognized. It helps astronomers, navigators, and mapmakers coordinate locations worldwide and standardize timekeeping, making it essential for global navigation, communication, and time zones.