Deep Time: The Tyranny of Time
TTBOOK Presents: Deep Time
The Process of Inserting a Leap Second
There are two days each year when a leap second can be inserted, June 30th and December 31st, at midnight. A group of scientific bodies continuously monitor this to determine if a leap second should be added. It's not just one person in charge, but a team of time administrators. The time czar in Paris sends an email to clock system operators worldwide, commanding them to add a second to their time scale. Earth rotation time measurement is a global industry, with mirrors on the Moon being used to measure Earth's position. All of this is coordinated in an office near Paris.
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