[ntp:questions] Google and leap seconds

David Woolley david at ex.djwhome.demon.invalid
Wed Sep 21 22:08:51 UTC 2011


unruh wrote:
> On 2011-09-21, David Woolley <david at ex.djwhome.demon.invalid> wrote:
>> Richard B. Gilbert wrote:
>>
>>> It's unfortunate that the earth DOES NOT rotate exactly 360 degrees in 
>>> exactly 24.000000000000 hours. This bit of poor design causes all sorts 
>> It's nothing like it.  It out by approximately 1 degree a day!
> 
> well, not if you define the rotation with respect to the "mean sun"
> rather than the stars. Then it is only out by a few PPB.
> 

It makes a big difference for GPS, though.  I believe their orbital 
period is half a sidereal day, not 12 hours or even 43200 TAI seconds.
> 




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