December 31 2005, 21:27Leap Second

A 'leap second' will be appended to 2005 tonight, to keep the time used by the world's clocks synchronised with Solar Time, which is based on the rotation of the Earth. This is necessary because the speed at which the Earth rotates is decreasing, albeit very gradually.

There will, therefore, be 61 seconds in the final minute of 2005. If by any chance you're of the opinion that 2005 can't end a second too soon, then I'm afraid 2006 will be arriving exactly a second too late.

For me personally it's a minor irritation; most of my wristwatches gain slightly, so the leap second will bring forward the time when it's necessary to adjust each of them.

Happy New Year.

§ - posted by james - * default - * No comments

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