On 16 Aug 2000, Chaim Frenkel wrote:
> >>>>> "BB" == Buddha Buck <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
>
> BB> I am assuming that the system clocks are set accurately to UTC (or some
> BB> derivative, like (US) Eastern Standard Time). UTC is what time-servers
> BB> report. UTC has leap seconds, which are inserted (or, theoretically,
> BB> deleted) at the end of December 31st and June 30th, as needed.
>
> Oh, I was under the impression that they only occur at Dec 31.
Nope.
> BB> This means that 86400 seconds (one day) after 2000 Dec 31, 12:00:00 UTC
> BB> is not necessarily 2001 Jan 1, 12:00:00 -- it could be 11:59:59 or
> BB> 12:00:01 as well. And there is no way to know that ahead of time.
>
> Hmm, there are negative leap seconds?
I believe there haven't been any yet, and it is not likely that there will
be any in the near future, but that there is provision for them.
The IERS (International Earth Rotation Service) monitors things and sends
out a bulletin twice a year, saying whether there will, or will not, be a
leap second on 30 June or 31 December (and which sign it will have if
there is one).
Cheers,
Philip
--
Philip Newton <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
