William and Abbey always took their holidays in January as it was considerably cheaper

On the second day they both looked out to sea from their apartment

Abbey spotted an Albatross on a small rock

What is a Golden Number ?

It is a number indicating the position of the year in the Metonic Cycle

Do you think the Albatross is aware of this as it is a long way to Titan?

Yes the Albatross would be fully aware of the Golden Number as this is the first lesson they learn

What is its history?

The Athenian astronomer Meton discovered that after a period of nineteen years the phases of the moon occur on almost the same days

How do you calculate the Golden Number?

It is easy to calculate the Golden Number just add one to the year and divide by nineteen if there is no remainder then the Golden Number is nineteen

Why do they call it the Golden Number?

In old calendars the number was printed in gold hence the name

Is it still used?

Not really but the calculations are still very important to the Albatross

As William finished his sentence the Albatross flew to a slightly larger rock and began to engrave the number nineteen on to its smooth surface with its golden beak

What is it doing?

Wait and see

The Albatross completed its task and after a few minutes flew upwards almost vertically

Its wingspan almost obscuring the strong morning sun

It flew higher and higher into the clear blue sky until it could not be seen with the naked eye

It is on its journey now

Will it return?

It is hard to predict

Some have returned but many do not and end up lost in the vacancy of space

What did the Albatross engrave onto the rock?

Let us find out

It would be a wasted journey

Why?

Because the sea would have washed away the engraving by now

I can still see it

You can see it in your memory that’s all

Will I ever know what was engraved on to that rock?

No not unless you travel to Titan