Re: [LEAPSECS] Titan Time

From: Rob Seaman <seaman_at_NOAO.EDU>
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 2006 12:03:27 -0700

Zefram wrote:

> the radian is not a very practical unit.

There's nothing at all wrong with the radian - but there is a reason
calculators let you switch between degrees and radians. Each is best
for particular purposes, just as interval time and time-of-day are
best for different uses. See also natural and common logarithms. Or
even the continuing value of Newtonian mechanics in the age of
Relativity.

> I prefer to use the circle: 1 cr = 2 _pi rad. Similarly, for solid
> angle, the sphere: 1 sf = 4 _pi sr.

...leading to the need to rely on pico, femto or atto spheres on a
day-to-day basis?

> 83 mcr (millicircles). That gives me a good image of where the sun
> is.

Fine. Glad for the acknowledgment that the position of the sun in
the sky matters.

> I prefer to cut everything decimally, including the circle and the
> day.
> Actually I might prefer to cut everything octally, but decimal is the
> dominant standard so let's use it. Consistency is the key.

Point "the Google" at "consistency emerson" for the canonical quote
on this subject.

For angles, I'll merely point out that you appear to be willing to
sacrifice not only the 24 hours in a day (what would Jack Bauer
think?) – but also the ability to express right angles and a
multitude of other special values of trigonometry, leading to
expressions like cosine (166.667 mcr) = one-half. And my kid thought
trigonometric identities were dubious before...

I doubt even the ITU would claim authority over the definition of pi :–)

Rob
Received on Thu Oct 26 2006 - 12:05:36 PDT