Capt_Picard 0 Posted December 23, 2005 (edited) 3...2...1...1...Happy New Year? December 23, 2005 By KOMO Staff & News Services WASHINGTON, D.C. - 2006 has been postponed. But not for long. A leap second will be inserted in the world's clocks just before midnight - Greenwich mean time - on New Year's Eve, the U.S. Naval Observatory reported Friday. That means Jan. 1, 2006 will occur one second later than it would have otherwise. Leap seconds are needed occasionally because modern atomic clocks measure time with great accuracy, while the rotation of the Earth can be inconsistent. The rotation of the Earth is and has been continuing to slow down ever so slightly, so leap seconds keep the clocks and the Earth from getting out of synch with one another. This will be the 23rd leap second that has been inserted since 1972 when an international timekeeping agreement was signed, according to the Observatory. The last one was inserted seven years ago. Wow... new to me! Edited December 23, 2005 by Capt_Picard Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrPsychic 1 Posted December 23, 2005 wow...a second...amazing.. :) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KIMIMELA 1 Posted December 23, 2005 I didn't know that! So it's a leap year, next year? :P :) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Itchygomba69 0 Posted December 23, 2005 they did that 15 years ago too Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jack_Bauer 1 Posted December 23, 2005 I didn't know that! So it's a leap year, next year? :P :) No, Leap Years are every 4 years because it actually takes 365.25 days for the Earth to orbit the Sun, so every 4 years (the last being 04) we get Feb 29. Any year with a Summer Olympics or a U.S. Presidential election is a leap year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KIMIMELA 1 Posted December 23, 2005 I didn't know that! So it's a leap year, next year? :) :) No, Leap Years are every 4 years because it actually takes 365.25 days for the Earth to orbit the Sun, so every 4 years (the last being 04) we get Feb 29. Any year with a Summer Olympics or a U.S. Presidential election is a leap year. So the next will be 2008? Hey, my lecturer said we have to give our projects in on the 30th Feb. There is no 30th! :P Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
APW 0 Posted December 23, 2005 Makes one wonder why we don't use a better system. It's been a long time and I don't recall the exact name of the calendar used by the ancient Mayans, but it was supposedly the most accurate calendar ever created. I don't care for leap years or daylight savings time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kor37 9 Posted December 23, 2005 Unfortunately, the Mayan calendar runs out in 2012 and some really bad stuff is supposed to happen then.......... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
He Who Shall Not Be Named 2 Posted December 24, 2005 Unfortunately, the Mayan calendar runs out in 2012 and some really bad stuff is supposed to happen then.......... Yeah, there will be a shortage of calendars as all the Mayans run out and buy 2013 calendars. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
APW 0 Posted December 24, 2005 Unfortunately, the Mayan calendar runs out in 2012 and some really bad stuff is supposed to happen then.......... Oh yeah, I forgot about the end of the world. I've got to jot that down and make sure I have nothing planned for that year. Should be fun. :) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrPsychic 1 Posted December 24, 2005 Unfortunately, the Mayan calendar runs out in 2012 and some really bad stuff is supposed to happen then.......... ::writes down on a notepad:: Note to self...Make sure to flirt with every girl in 2011 just in case 2012 is the end... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stvoyagerfan 1 Posted December 24, 2005 everyone's invited to my place in 2012 for its the end of the world party or happy new year 2013 which ever happens first. tm :) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
youbroughtheryouRiker 2 Posted December 24, 2005 I didn't know that! So it's a leap year, next year? :P :) No, Leap Years are every 4 years because it actually takes 365.25 days for the Earth to orbit the Sun, so every 4 years (the last being 04) we get Feb 29. Any year with a Summer Olympics or a U.S. Presidential election is a leap year. And you just KNOW they did that to get an extra day of campaigning in. :) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jack_Bauer 1 Posted December 24, 2005 I didn't know that! So it's a leap year, next year? :P :) No, Leap Years are every 4 years because it actually takes 365.25 days for the Earth to orbit the Sun, so every 4 years (the last being 04) we get Feb 29. Any year with a Summer Olympics or a U.S. Presidential election is a leap year. And you just KNOW they did that to get an extra day of campaigning in. :) Um...I don't think so. Campaigning usually starts in the summer after the conventions, so they really don't get an extra day. But it makes sense that every term will contiain at least one February 29th. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
youbroughtheryouRiker 2 Posted December 24, 2005 I didn't know that! So it's a leap year, next year? :P :) No, Leap Years are every 4 years because it actually takes 365.25 days for the Earth to orbit the Sun, so every 4 years (the last being 04) we get Feb 29. Any year with a Summer Olympics or a U.S. Presidential election is a leap year. And you just KNOW they did that to get an extra day of campaigning in. :) Um...I don't think so. Campaigning usually starts in the summer after the conventions, so they really don't get an extra day. But it makes sense that every term will contiain at least one February 29th. It's called a joke. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KIMIMELA 1 Posted December 24, 2005 :) When's the funny part happening? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites