07-28-2022, 10:24 PM
https://www.timeanddate.com/news/astrono...t-day-2022
Earth has recorded its shortest day since scientists began using atomic clocks to measure its rotational speed.
On June 29, 2022, Earth completed one spin in 1.59 milliseconds less than 24 hours. This is the latest in a series of speed records for Earth since 2020.
Earth spins once every 24 hours—this is why the Sun appears to rise and set every day.
In general, over long periods, Earth’s spin is slowing. Every century, Earth takes a couple of milliseconds or so longer to complete one rotation (where 1 millisecond equals 0.001 seconds).
Within this general pattern, however, the speed of Earth’s spin fluctuates. From one day to the next, the time Earth takes to complete one rotation goes up or down by a fraction of a millisecond.
I can't remember what I was doing on 29th June (so I'm not sure whether or not I would've been pleased that it was shortened by 1.59 milliseconds !). It may not sound like much, but if it becomes the norm, then it could necessitate our first ever negative 'leap second' (which again may not sound like much, but it could cause problems for software that relies on timers ).
Let's hope that negative leap second isn't needed after all (or, if it is, then our software engineers are on top of the situation !)
Earth has recorded its shortest day since scientists began using atomic clocks to measure its rotational speed.
On June 29, 2022, Earth completed one spin in 1.59 milliseconds less than 24 hours. This is the latest in a series of speed records for Earth since 2020.
Earth spins once every 24 hours—this is why the Sun appears to rise and set every day.
In general, over long periods, Earth’s spin is slowing. Every century, Earth takes a couple of milliseconds or so longer to complete one rotation (where 1 millisecond equals 0.001 seconds).
Within this general pattern, however, the speed of Earth’s spin fluctuates. From one day to the next, the time Earth takes to complete one rotation goes up or down by a fraction of a millisecond.
I can't remember what I was doing on 29th June (so I'm not sure whether or not I would've been pleased that it was shortened by 1.59 milliseconds !). It may not sound like much, but if it becomes the norm, then it could necessitate our first ever negative 'leap second' (which again may not sound like much, but it could cause problems for software that relies on timers ).
Let's hope that negative leap second isn't needed after all (or, if it is, then our software engineers are on top of the situation !)
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