Re: [LEAPSECS] Types of time

From: John Cowan <jcowan_at_reutershealth.com>
Date: Fri, 08 Sep 2000 11:41:09 -0400

Roger Stapleton wrote:

> I have a real problem that this discussion may affect.

Boiled down:

        You need LST. You currently can get UTC, which is a sufficient
        approximation of UT1, and UT1 to LST conversion is algorithmic.

        In a world where UTC = TAI - k for constant k, you would need to
        learn the current value of TAI - UT1 from an external source.

        The rest of us geeks work internally in TAI - n. We too currently
        can get UTC, and have to learn the current value of TAI - UTC from
        an external source, or else "pursue it with forks and hope".

        In a world where UTC = TAI - k, we would need no external source.

        The current UTC system is biased in favor of your applications
        and other astronomically based ones, and against the rest of us.

--
There is / one art                   || John Cowan <jcowan_at_reutershealth.com>
no more / no less                    || http://www.reutershealth.com
to do / all things                   || http://www.ccil.org/~cowan
with art- / lessness                 \\ -- Piet Hein
Received on Fri Sep 08 2000 - 08:51:08 PDT

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