On Fri, 2005-08-12 at 08:44 +0200, Poul-Henning Kamp wrote:
> In message <20050811191032.GA24024_at_cox.net>, Greg Hennessy writes:
> >> Will you support a proposal that keeps leap-second (or -minutes),
> >> but mandates that they be determined 40 or 50 years in advance ?
> >
> >Determined to what accuracy?
>
> Whatever the prediction is able to nail it to.
>
> I realize that this means that the bounds on |UT1-UTC| increases
> to about a minute, worst case, but already given todays predictive
> capabilities, I think it will be possible to keep the difference
> within a handful of seconds.
I personally would NOT support such a proposal then.
I might be willing to support a proposal that calls for broadcast of the
difference of UT1-UTC as well of a long term determination of leap
seconds.
Right now GPS does not broadcast delta T, although Dennis McCarthy has
indicated to me there exists an unused field that might be used to do
so. If alternative means can be found for astronomers to get a decent
approximation of UT1 other than using leap seconds to keep UTC within
0.9 sec of UT1, astronomers wouldn't spazz out so much at the idea of
dorking with leap seconds.
--
Greg Hennessy <greg.hennessy_at_cox.net>
Received on Fri Aug 12 2005 - 04:27:41 PDT