It passes through the Greenwich Observatory near London.
Explanation
The Prime Meridian is the reference line for the Earth's longitude system, designated as 0° longitude. It serves as the starting point for measuring angular distances east and west on the Earth's surface.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement It passes through the Greenwich Observatory near London. is Correct: The Prime Meridian is defined by international agreement (International Meridian Conference, 1884) as the meridian that passes through the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, near London. This geographic location is the primary identifier of the Prime Meridian.
- Statement Its value is 90° longitude. is Incorrect: The value of the Prime Meridian is 0° longitude. A value of 90° refers to meridians located 90 degrees east or west of the Prime Meridian.
- Statement Longitude is counted 180° eastward and 180° westward from it. is Contextually Secondary: While it is true that longitude is measured up to 180° eastward and westward from the Prime Meridian, Statement It passes through the Greenwich Observatory near London. is the fundamental definition of the line's location. Furthermore, the 180° meridian is a single common line (the International Date Line roughly follows it), making the phrasing of counting "180° eastward and 180° westward" a description of the coordinate range rather than the defining characteristic of the Prime Meridian itself.
- Statement It divides the earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. is Incorrect: The Prime Meridian (along with the anti-meridian at 180°) divides the Earth into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. It is the Equator (0° latitude) that divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
Key Takeaway:
The Prime Meridian is the 0° longitude line passing through Greenwich, London, which divides the Earth into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.