* Astronomy

Castle gun fired early

For possibly the first time in its 150-year history, the Edinburgh Castle One o'Clock Gun sounded early yesterday.
Thousands across the city stopped to check their watches at 12.40pm as a single shot resounded over the capital.
However, it was only a re- enactment of the very first One o'Clock Gun to be fired here in 1861.
Such is the reverence with which the cannon is held, even a repeat of the famous first ceremony could not interfere with the actual salute, which was fired 20 minutes later - literally bang on time.
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