York Minster astronomical clock, Astronomical clock and war memorial in York Minster Cathedral, England
The astronomical clock in the North Transept of York Minster displays the movements of the Sun, Moon, and stars. Its main face shows a golden map of York with the cathedral marked in the center.
Installed in 1955, the clock serves as a war memorial for 18,000 airmen from Yorkshire, Durham, and Northumberland who died in World War II. It was created to remember those lost during air operations over the Atlantic.
The clock honors pilot navigation and demonstrates how people found their way through the sky. Its design connects ancient astronomical craftsmanship with the practical needs of flight.
The clock is located in the North Transept beside the Five Sisters window. Visitors can view it during cathedral opening hours, typically starting from 9 AM.
The front dial shows the Sun and navigation stars from the perspective of a pilot flying above York. Curved wires on the surface trace altitude lines, as if mapping a flight path.
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