Jens Olsen's World Clock

Jens Olsen's World Clock or Verdensur is an advanced astronomical clock which is displayed in Copenhagen City Hall.

The clock was designed and calculated by Jens Olsen who was a skilled locksmith, but later learned the trade of clockmaking. He also took part in the beginning of the clock's construction, but died in 1945, 10 years before the clock was completed.

The clock consists of 12 movements which together have over 14,000 parts. The clock is mechanical and must be wound once a week. Displays include lunar and solar eclipses, positions of the stellar bodies, and a perpetual calendar, in addition to the time. The fastest gear completes a revolution each ten seconds, and the slowest will have completed a full circuit every 25,753 years.

The calculations for the clock were made up until 1928, after which they were supervised by the astronomer Professor Elis Strömgren. The drawings for the clock were made between 1934 and 1936, and the actual production of the clock took place from 1943 until 1955. The clock was started on December 15, 1955 by King Frederick IX and Jens Olsen's youngest grandchild Birgit.

References

* Otto Mortensen "Jens Olsen's Clock: A Technical Description" Technological Institute, Copenhagen, 1957

External links

* [http://www.ateliera.dk/olsenfacts.htm The Story of the Astronomical Clock]
* [http://www.nikandjok.dk/olsen.php Description of Jens Olsen's World Clock] (Danish-language)