|
According to the "old style" Julian calendar, Isaac Newton was born on 25 December 1642,
although according to the "new style" Gregorian calendar, which England adopted in 1752,
his birth date is 4 January 1643.
Newton formulated the classical laws of motion and universal gravitation that
stood until the development of the theory of relativity.
It is claimed that Newton was inspired to develop his theory of gravitation after
seeing an apple fall from a tree, and the Parkes Visitors Centre is one of the locations
around the world to host a tree originating from that orchard.
The plaque in the image above reads:
"This apple tree, planted by Dr R Ekers, Director, Australia Telescope National Facility,
in October 1991, is a direct descendant (scion) of an apple tree that stood in
Sir Isaac Newton's garden in Lincolnshire, England."
The tree pictured struggled through years of drought, but the Visitors Centre now hosts
several thriving trees of the same origin.
And
the Parkes Telescope is being used
for ever stricter tests of theories of gravity.
(Image credit: CSIRO Radio Astronomy Image Archive)
|
