Timelord @NPL Traditional Cache
Hidden : 7/30/2012
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size: other (other)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works
Looking for a different adventure?

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:

This magnetic microcache is located only a few hundred metres from the laboratory containing the atomic clock that, via satellites, helped you to locate the cache. The laboratory is located on the edge of Bushy Park. You may cache & dash or take your time to read; this location has parking (Clapperstile, from Queen’s Road), is accessible for pushchairs, bikes; available 24/7. Stealth required: Coleshill Passage is a well-used thoroughfare.

In 1955 Louis Essen developed the first accurate caesium atomic clock on this site at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), which led to the internationally agreed definition of the second being based on atomic time. This remains the fundamental standard today.
NPL operates the group of atomic clocks that form both the national time scale, known as UTC(NPL), and feed into the global network of 40 time laboratories that maintain an international time standard.
In January 2014 NPL was officially declared to be the birthplace of atomic timekeeping http://www.npl.co.uk/news/npl-named-birthplace-of-atomic-timekeeping The clocks at NPL are accurate to 1 second in 100 million years and provide time broadcast throughout the UK via the MSF radio time signal, which synchronises a considerable number of radio-controlled clocks across the UK, and provides the time for the speaking clock and the BONGS from Big Ben.
Another way that UTC(NPL) is available to the public is through GPS receivers.
A GPS receiver calculates its position by precisely timing the signals sent by GPS satellites high above the Earth. Each satellite continually transmits messages that include
  • the time the message was transmitted
  • satellite position at time of message transmission
The accuracy and seamless connectivity of global time are crucial to the working of the global satellite positioning system, the internet and worldwide communications. And Geocachers! The terrain is easy although thanks to lack of sloped kerb wheelchair users will need assistance to reach the cache.
Cache placed with kind permission of the National Measurement Office. **Congratulations to team tisri & Misty and Minou for the FTF**

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Naxyr urvtug & vafvqr- ybbx sbe gur ◀️. Cyrnfr ercynpr ybj gb znvagnva uvqr!

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


Advertising with Us