Noon Day project measurements begin this week- March 18, 2013

Carl Sagan tells the story (6.5min)

The Goal of the Noon Day Project is to have students measure the circumference of the earth using a method that was first used by Eratosthenes over 2000 years ago. Students at various sites around the world will measure shadows cast by a meter stick and compare their results. From this data students will be able to calculate the circumference of the earth.

Doing the measurements

You can sign up for this project here.

• There is some good background material on the measurement at the Noon Day project site hosted by my friends at CIESE (Center for Innovation in Engineering & Science Education) - Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ 
• Follow me on Twitter (Hashtag #noondaymeasure) as I recreate the experiment that Eratosthenes did. I plan to do my measurements this week.
• Also another great resource is provided by a European Astronomy group. Well worth a visit.

It will be done again in September, 2012. Let me know if you want a "heads up" early next year.

References

Noon Day Central - link

My article: In the Spirit of Eratosthenes - Measuring the Circumference of the Earth (Learning and Leading with Technology, ISTE. April, 1997) - pdf

Article by Al Rodgers: Eratosthenes in the Schools. - link