General "Leap second" adds extra moment for first time since 2008

FireCat

Oh Shi.. Don't wake the tiger!
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Scientists say Saturday will stretch a second longer.
The transition from June to July will be delayed by circumstances beyond everyone's control. Time will stand still for one second on Saturday evening (June 30) because a "leap second" will be added to let a lagging Earth catch up to super-accurate clocks.
International Atomic Time is a very accurate and stable time scale. It is a weighted average of the time kept by about 200 atomic clocks in over 50 national laboratories worldwide. Atomic time is measured through vibrations of atoms in a metal isotope that resembles mercury and can keep time to within a tenth of a billionth of a second per day. The result is extremely accurate time that can be used to improve synchronization in precision navigation and positioning systems, telecommunications networks and deep-space communications.


What will you do with all that extra time?
 
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Ghan

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Because it's EARTH that lags and not MAN-MADE clocks, right?

Actually, yes, because Earth is constantly slowing down in its revolution around the Sun. We have to adjust for that lag in order to stay in sync with the Earth's revolution.
 

FireCat

Oh Shi.. Don't wake the tiger!
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How's it going? Seems like you had a busy second @Weegee

Anyway. next time we may not get to see leap seconds anymore. Isn't that bad?
Earlier this year, official timekeepers from across the world discussed whether to eliminate the practice of adding leap seconds. They decided they needed more time to think about the issue and will next debate the issue in 2015.
 
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